ICON Constructors Awards

Associated General Contractors’ virtual Awards Recognition Week took place from November 17th-20th, 2020. ICON Constructors, LLC, of Mabel, Minnesota was presented with the MnDOT/AGC award for the cost category between $1.5 million and $5 million. The winning project was Bridge Number 23536 which is located on Heron Road over the South Branch Root River near Preston, Minnesota in Fillmore County. The bridge consists of a 3-span continuous concrete slab structure with a total length of 132 ft and clear width of 28 ft. The north span of the bridge is located within a 20 mph horizontal curve. Substructures consist of concrete integral abutments and pile bent piers encased in concrete. Design included 970 ft of approach roadway reconstruction consisting of a combination of urban paved curb/gutter section and rural aggregate surface section.

According to Kevin Western, State Bridge Engineer with the MnDOT Bridge Office, notable things about this project that resulted in high marks during judging include:

• Innovation: Innovative use of sequencing and staging to meet project needs. Innovative use of design and construction methods not always used on local projects.
• Complexity: Limited access near active resort facility and golf course, specific construction sequencing and timelines to meet area needs, bridge and roadway geometry, varied foundations.
• Timeliness: Meeting not just one, but two completion dates with the interim completion date for the substructure protecting a DNR designated trout stream.
• Workmanship: Deck finish and ride quality are very good and overall aesthetics of the bridge are excellent with very good concrete finish and workmanship throughout.
• Other: Contractor and Owner's safety record working in close proximity to popular area attractions. Successful public-private partnership with multiple Stakeholders.”

On May 3, 2016, at the 14th Annual Bridge Construction Awards in St. Paul, ICON Constructors, LLC, Mabel, was presented with the MnDOT/AGC (Associated General Contractors) award for the cost category between $1.5 million and $5 million.  The bridge constructed by ICON that won this award was Bridge Number 79012, which carries T.H. 60 over the Zumbro River in Mazeppa.  There were several factors that made this a very difficult project:  first, access to the center span was difficult with very steep slopes and over a 40’ high ravine; second, ICON, themselves, fabricated a beam launcher to set the prestressed girders; third, the bridge was built in a very tight 3-month schedule; and fourth, the architectural treatments on the abutments and pier shafts used a “cut stone” texture to blend in with the native limestone features and to simulate the aesthetics of an existing city bridge.  The rating panel noted the high quality workmanship and innovativeness on this bridge.