Hundreds of people walk the through the I-35 Mississippi River Observation Park in Minneapolis each day, a tribute to the resilience of the community after the tragic bridge collapse in 2007. The observation decks located on both sides of the river stand as a monument to the community rebounding from the tragedy. 

Hot-dip galvanized steel provided an aesthetically appealing and cost effective material to create this park as a place for citizens to pause for reflection. The galvanizing process provides an excellent abrasion resistant coating to help protect the structure from the corrosive river mist and road salts used on the bridge during the harsh Minnesota winters. Special tooling was built to expedite the job, which was completed ahead of schedule. 

All of the cable post and handrails were galvanized, meaning they will be protected from the daily onslaught of foot traffic. Since HDG steel is 100% recyclable, the project also met the sustainability requirement needed to match the new bridges life expectancy of 100 years. The aesthetic gives a calm appeal, especially at night when the blue lights reflect from the bridge. Galvanized steel will preserve this fitting tribute, keeping it strong and rust-free for generations.