The Franklin Avenue bridge spanning West River Parkway and the Mississippi River is practically new, and already blemishes are appearing.
Concrete has flaked off the top of the railing at places along the 1,054-foot bridge that was rehabilitated during the 2015 and 2016 construction seasons. Cracks have appeared at a few of the pilasters, those sections of the railing that appear to support a column but really are more ornamental than functional.
"If you look at many sidewalks and driveways, you see that kind of surface defect not long after the pour," Drive reader Bruce said in an e-mail that was accompanied by photos highlighting the imperfections.
"If it were limited to one area, I would not be upset; that would indicate the concrete was not handled right during construction. But it is happening in many places on the bridge."
There is no cause for concern, said Bob Beckel, the Upper Midwest regional manager for Kraemer North America, the contractor hired by Hennepin County to carry out the $51 million bridge reconstruction. The flaws may be unsightly, but "there is no structural issue," he said.
Officially known as the Cappelen Memorial Bridge, the project was a complex process. More than 366 precast panels were built upstream at Bohemian Flats, then loaded onto a barge and floated downstream. At the bridge site, the pieces were hoisted by cranes into their final positions. The bridge got a new deck and new features that included protected bike lanes, sidewalks and overlook areas.
Colin Cox, a spokesman with the Hennepin County Transportation Department, said the county is working with Kraemer to determine exactly what caused the defects. He said the bridge is still under warranty and problems will be repaired.
Beckel said there may have been too much clay material mixed in with the concrete, and that might explain the flaking on the railing. When the material expands, it causes pop-outs. It's a common problem that can easily be fixed, he said.
