Wide load traverses 10, 101 and 169

Bridge beams delivered to Main Street/Highway 169 job site after being made in Elk River

Teamwork was needed to get 13 bridge beams measuring 192 feet to an Elk River job site.

The massive bridge beams were delivered to the Highway 169 and Main Street work site in Elk River this past week. They were made in Elk River at Rinker Materials (formerly Cretex). The Minnesota Department of Transportation is constructing the fourth and final interchange for a three-year project this construction season. MnDOT reported this week construction is on schedule and said crews were delivering and placing bridge beams for the future Highway 169 bridge over Main Street.

The beams are pre-stressed/casted concrete. Each beam weighs 112 tons and is 7 feet tall and 192 feet long. Once placed, deck forming will begin. Watch for an upcoming story in the Star News about what it took to create these beams at the Rinker Materials yard in Elk River.