West River Parkway landslide repair

About this project

Client
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Location
Minnesota
Cost
$4.4 million (construction)
Completion date
2017

Awards

Best Project Award (projects under $10 million)
Engineering News-Record Midwest  2017
Engineering Excellence Grand Award
ACEC/MN  2017

In June 2014, a record storm caused 10,000 square feet of the Mississippi River bluff to fail, burying West River Parkway and exposing hospital infrastructure. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board hired Barr to monitor slope and infrastructure stability and then design and observe construction of repairs. Work was complicated by the extremely steep slope; limited access; seepage; weak soils; stability concerns; and an active hospital facility with loading, noise, and emissions restrictions. Barr integrated soil nails and five retaining walls to design a unified stabilization system and specified low-vibration installation techniques to curtail the potential of additional slides. Completed under budget, the project helped ensure public safety without interrupting hospital operations. The parkway reopened for commuters and cyclists on September 16, 2016, just in time for the Twin Cities Marathon.

Key team members

Jim Herbert
Vice President
Senior Civil Engineer
Michelle Kimble
Senior Civil Engineer
Michael Haggerty
Vice President
Senior Geotechnical Engineer

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