The new bridge will carry the road across the Rouchleau Pit. MnDOT needs to move the highway in order to release an area for mining.
The preliminary design is for a high-level four-span steel girder bridge with a total project cost estimated at approximately US$220 million. Other alternatives the state considered had more difficult technical challenges or were over land that could potentially be mined.
The chosen alternative offered the most workable challenges and had the lowest cost of all the alternatives, said MnDOT officials. “From an engineering and cost point-of-view, this route stands out,” said MnDOT commissioner Charlie Zelle. “We expect that the environmental process taking place now will support it. However, we want to make sure we haven’t missed anything, and encourage comment on the recommendation.”
MnDOT has been developing the relocation project for about four years. Moving the road is necessary because of an agreement with Cliffs Natural Resources, which plans to mine iron ore underneath the road. MnDOT has until 2017 to vacate the road.
