Eisenhower Bridge of Valor

Solution: Prestress girders offer advantages during historic bridge reconstruction.

Spanning the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minnesota, the Eisenhower Bridge of Valor is a landmark along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. After an inspection by the Minnesota DOT determined that the original cantilever bridge was at risk of fracturing, the state launched a project to replace it with a durable and economical solution.

As the only river crossing in a 30-mile stretch, the bridge serves as a vital link between the two states. Minimizing the disruption to the 13,000 daily users of the bridge was a high priority for the project.

County Prestress & Precast’s Prestressed Bridge Girders were chosen for a portion of the bridge’s superstructure because of their reliable strength, long-term cost-effectiveness, and ability to accelerate project timelines. “Based on the span lengths on the Wisconsin side of the project, concrete beams were an economical solution for the superstructure,” said MnDOT Construction Manager Terry Ward.

The use of prestressed concrete also minimized the disruption of the local wetland environment on the Wisconsin side of the bridge, helping the project meet federal environmental assessment standards.

County Prestress & Precast manufactured 28 prestress girders for the project. Each beam measured 174 feet long, 82 inches tall, and weighed 202,000 pounds. At the time of production, these were the largest prestressed concrete girders ever produced in Wisconsin.  

County Materials’ experienced dispatchers and drivers coordinated closely with the contractor and the Wisconsin State Patrol to deliver the massive girders on time to keep the project on schedule. Using two cranes, each girder was set within just 45 minutes. 

This major infrastructure project received national attention when it won Best Bridge with a Main Span Between 76-200 Feet in the 2022 PCI Design Awards.