Veteran’s Boulevard I-94 Interchange Bridge

This project is unique among bridges due to significant departures from normally perceived standards. First, it is the widest bridge every constructed in the State of North Dakota, providing width for two lanes in each direction plus adequate shoulder allowances to make future expansion to three lanes each way plus a median. To complicate the construction effort, the engineers asked the Contractor to install a double crown to ensure adequate drainage for each traffic direction.

To ensure a quality final bridge deck outcome, the engineers asked for retarding concrete admixtures to ensure workability for finishing and to delay set-time to minimize tear-type surface cracks over the piers. The deck pour was conducted at night to also enhance the crew’s ability to finish the surface under ideal conditions. With an extreme width of the bridge deck finishing machine due to the ultra width, crews were still able to accomplish a smooth ride and perform with only minor evidence of drainage issues in the bridge crown.

Credit is given to the City of West Fargo and City of Fargo for pooling their financial resources to pay for the bridge construction. This bridge now provides an important cross-link across I-94 to ease traffic flow as development for both cities continues to the south and west of existing urban areas. The NDDOT provided concrete pavement for the ramps.