Martin Olav Sabo Bridge
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| Martin Olav Sabo Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The Marton Olav Sabo Bridge viewed from the south, from around 28th Avenue. |
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| Official name | Martin Olav Sabo Bridge |
| Carries | Pedestrian and bicycle |
| Crosses | Minnesota State Highway 55 (Hiawatha Avenue) |
| Locale | Minneapolis |
| Maintained by | Minneapolis Public Works |
| Design | cable-stayed suspension |
| Longest span | 220 feet (67 m) |
| Total length | 2,200 feet (671 m) |
| Height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Opening date | Ribbon Cutting November 8, 2007, at 4:00PM CDT |
| Maps and aerial photos | |
The Martin Olav Sabo Bridge is a bridge in the city of Minneapolis and the first cable-stayed suspension bridge in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Currently called the Midtown Greenway Pedestrian Bridge, when ownership transfers to the city, it will be renamed in honor of former Representative Martin Olav Sabo, a fourteen-term member of Congress from Minnesota.
Opened and dedicated in November 2007, the bridge crosses Hiawatha Avenue (Trunk Highway 55) north of 28th Street East and just south of 26th Street East, joining Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Minneapolis Midtown Greenway at Hiawatha Avenue, allowing a continuous biking connection across the city. The bridge also links Longfellow community (Longfellow and Seward neighborhoods) to Phillips community (East Phillips neighborhood).
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[edit] Configuration
The new bridge eliminates the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross busy Hiawatha Avenue with a stoplight at grade-level. Instead, the bridge brings them north one block, over the highway, and back south, introducing a new grade-level crossing of 28th Street East west of Hiawatha. Users will still be able to use the at-grade Hiawatha crossing after completion.[1]
[edit] Structure
The bridge has a total length of 2,200 feet with the main span over Hiawatha at 220 feet. The height of the single tower from where the cables are suspended from is about 100 feet. This is the first true cable suspension bridge in the State of Minnesota. It was designed by engineering consulting-firm URS and modified by community input organized through the Midtown Greenway Coalition.[2]
[edit] History
During Congressman Martin Olav Sabo's tenure, he earmarked $2.9 million in federal funding to the project. He is also recognized for acquiring federal funding to complete many capital improvements throughout Minneapolis. City advisory boards and committees forwarded the recommendation to rename the bridge after Sabo in 2005 (see City Council resolution) Hennepin County provided additional funding to total $4 million for the final project.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Roadguy blog: Check out the new Greenway bridge. Star Tribune (December 8, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- ^ Midtown Greenway Coalition Board Meeting Minutes. Midtown Greenway Coalition (April 18, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- ^ From the Department of Public Works. City of Minneapolis (August 9, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. This contains official documentation from the Minneapolis Department of Public Works.
- City Council Action Proceedings. City of Minneapolis (August 19, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. This contains official City Council approval on the bridge.
- Capital Improvement Projects: Midtown Greenway Pedestrian Bridge. City of Minneapolis (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-31. This contains the City of Minneapolis published update of the project.
[edit] External links
- North American Cable-Stayed Bridge Registry
- Rendered bridge animation by Star Tribune
- Metal Geek blog on the bridge construction
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