The Interstate 90 Bridge over the Mississippi River between La Crosse, WI and La Crescent, MN is a heavily used commuter route. It is part of the longest Interstate Highway (I-90) from coast-to-coast, providing important commercial and defense infrastructure for the entire nation.
Bridge Design Project Objectives
The goal of a three-year, $187.5 million project was to provide a new, structurally sound I-90 river crossing bridge that achieved current structural and geometric standards on this important regional river crossing, and provided a safer, higher-capacity reconstructed interchange.
A design requirement was that the reconstructed bridge and interchange fit naturally into the beautiful surroundings created by the bluff and river environment.
Key factors in the river bridge design plan:
- 100-year design life
- Length: 2,593 feet |Width: 45-66 feet
- Two 12-foot lanes in each direction
- 12-foot outside shoulders, 6-foot inside shoulders
Slope Protection Design Solution
Presto’s GEOWEB® 3D system was chosen to address both structural and aesthetic design requirements for 11 different slope application areas. The 3D system confines and stabilizes topsoil and aggregate on steep slopes. Confined infill is stable on steep slopes ≥ 1H:1V and is minimally affected by surface runoff.
