Ventilation Pipes and Tower Crane, I-35W Stormwater Storage Facility, Minneapolis

The I-35W Stormwater Storage Facility is a underground storage system built by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to capture runoff from the I-35W corridor in downtown Minneapolis. Large-diameter shafts and tunnels bored into the bedrock hold stormwater until it can be released at a controlled rate, easing pressure on the city's combined sewer system and reducing the risk of flooding along the freeway. Ventilation ducting inside the shafts supplies fresh air to crews working below grade during construction, while a tower crane positioned at the surface handles material and equipment for the excavation work. Projects of this scale are typically phased over several years, with concrete lining and reinforcement work following the initial rock excavation.

Photo taken in February 2022.