Element Materials Technology

Client: The Builders, Inc.

Date: 2001-2002

The Uptown Transit Station was constructed by The Builders, Inc. between 2001 and 2002 in Minneapolis, MN. The project is located in one of the most congested areas of Minneapolis along Hennepin Avenue over the 29th Street Greenway in the Uptown area.

There is a rail line running through Uptown that is designated as a future busway/light-rail track and an adjacent greenway that will be used as a trolley line. The transit station needed to be located where it could accommodate current transit needs and these transit improvements.

Hennepin Avenue is a major street connecting Uptown to downtown Minneapolis, and it crosses the future busway/light-rail track and the trolley greenway. The existing Hennepin Avenue bridge was expanded to allow construction of passenger waiting areas on both sides and add bus pullover lanes.  Locating the project on the bridge placed it in the perfect location to connect to the future busway/light-rail and trolley line.

The Uptown Transit Station has succeeded in concentrating transit services, providing climate controlled passenger space, and investing in transit improvements that will support multiple uses. All of this was accomplished in a high-density area with no disruption to existing businesses.

Element St. Paul provided construction inspection and testing services on the project. Element field personnel performed inspection of soil placed as engineered fill and of concrete placements. Field personnel performed testing for soil compaction density and for plastic concrete. Laboratory personnel performed mechanical analyses of soil and aggregate, Proctor testing of soil, and compressive strength testing of concrete cylinders.