AUGUST 25, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Michael Beer

Club 10 Business Report

President Carla Hauge brought the meeting to order at 12:17 p.m. on a cloudless, summer day in downtown Saint Paul. Past District Governor and President Joe Kovarik led the assembled Rotarians in singing our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, accompanied by Dennis Boom on the piano. Shelly Rucks provided today's invocation (regarding the approach of fall, highlighted by a question to a second grader; Q: "What are you looking forward to in the fall?" A: "My mistakes!"). Mary Britts facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Today's Greeters were Nancy McKillips and Heidi Fisher.

President Carla announced that this week's Thursday morning breakfast will not be held at the Boy Scouts' HQ but is moving to The Episcopal Homes office. The entrance is at east Lynnhurst and University Avenue. The event is hosted by Shelly Rucks. Rotarian birthdays for the month of August were recognized. Carolyn Brusseau introduced new Rotarian Debbie Lee. President Carla presented Debbie with the Rotary bounty that new members receive upon joining Club 10. Scott Van introduced the Rose Sale. Orders will go to Jason DeKuester via email or Jodi Erickson at the Club 10 office. Jay Pfaender promoted next week's meeting featuring the Director of Destination Rochester who will talk about the new development coming to Rochester. 

Mary Britts collected happy Dollars.

Larry Morgan introduced today's speaker, Michael Beer, District Construction Engineer (MnDOT) and Project Director for the new Stillwater bridge now called "St. Croix Crossing." The bridge will cost $375 million plus $40 million for the piers supporting the bridge. The bridge is a hybrid of a box girder bridge and a cable stay bridge. The cable stays are shorter than most cable stay bridges to accommodate the surrounding landscape. The bridge utilizes stainless steel rebar coated with epoxy. It is the second bridge of its type being constructed in North America. It was necessary to go 160 feet deep to reach bedrock below the bridge. There is almost as much below water as above water. Parts of the bridge were fabricated as far away as California and Florida. Two cement-casting yards were developed to cast 338 segments weighing 80 to 90 tons each for the bridge. One casting yard is on-site; one is at Grey Cloud Island near Cottage Grove. Ten to twelve segments can be taken by barge at one time from Grey Cloud Island to the bridge site.

The construction schedule for 2015 includes completion of the cast-in-place approach ramps. In 2016, approach bridges will be completed. St. Croix Crossing will open to traffic in the fall of 2016. Some work will not be complete, so some finishing work will still be going on during the summer of 2017 resulting in periodic single lane closures until completion. This is the most complex bridge MnDOT has ever built and has a minimum design life of one hundred years. The full span is 3,300 feet. The existing Stillwater lift bridge will be converted to bike and pedestrian traffic only after St. Croix Crossing opens with a five-mile loop across the new bridge. Mr. Beer encouraged everyone to sign-up for project email updates at the project website (http://www.dot.state.mn.us/stcroixcrossing).

President Carla thanked Mr. Beer for his presentation and noted that a donation in his name would be made to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Read With Me" program. She then led those assembled in a recitation of the Four-Way Test ("Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?  Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?").  She then rang the bell to close the meeting at 1:12 p.m. 

Chuck Standfuss, Scribe