If you’ve passed the Memorial Bridge construction site on the Bismarck side lately, you’ve likely noticed this big improvised tent along the hillside. I found out the story on this eye-catching structure today in a brief little tour. Here’s what it looks like inside:

This tent acts as a shelter for some very important work taking place inside. This is where the ground has been stabilized in preparation for the new bridge work…in fact, the ground beneath the loader contains around two hundred steel pilings, joined by welded steel plates! These guys are serious.

This area is where a large retaining wall will be constructed, and the pilings running down the length of this tent will be underground by the time things are finished. The sidewalk will eventually be poured on the left side of that concrete line. There’s a lot more steel work yet to be done, too!

The bed of this area is some of the nicest sandy soil I’ve seen since I did the concrete work around my house and garage (yeah, I’m a do-it-yourself type of guy). They’re busy getting ready for a big cement retaining wall to make sure that the land adjacent to the new bridge will be stable. This isn’t just a bunch of guys with loaders moving dirt; this is a careful and intricate process.

I’ve only mentioned a few of the really cool details about the work these guys are doing. I really appreciate the tour and answers to all my geeky questions. I sure can’t wait to see how the bridge work progresses over the next couple of months! Once this part is done, they’ll be off to the Mandan side to get that going. Hmmm…I wonder if they’re going to reuse that plastic?