Beams Put in Place for 55th Street Bypass Bridge | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 7/11/2012

A milestone took place at the 55th Street NE Bypass bridge today. Seventy bridge beams were put in place which will act as the base for the bridge.

For the next 10 to 12 working days, a team of construction workers will take the bridge beams to the work area. The workers will make two runs a day to set the beams in place. The biggest beams are 143 ft long and weigh approximately 112,000 pounds.

"This project is to help traffic in east Minot. Obviously there is a lot of railroad traffic in the rail yard in Gavin Yard here. And with the inner mobile picking up and services, it should hopefully lessen the train stops," said Project Engineer Jeff McElwain.

These beams will act as a seven mile bypass that will take you around the northeast part of the town. In addition to the bypass, there will be a bridge over the railroad so the cars can easily commute.

Crews expect to finish placing the bridge beams near the start of the North Dakota State Fair at the end of this month.

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