A handful of curious residents gathered at Bronx Park in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on July 23 and gazed up at a 95' wide metal dome which hovered quietly above their neighborhood. No, there weren't any frantic calls to the National Enquirer to report a UFO sighting. The residents were witnessing the conclusion of a unique water tank roof replacement project.
The need for replacement of the roof at Reservoir No. 1 became evident in 1996. Sandblasting performed prior to a painting project had exposed serious corrosion of the reservoir's steel roof. Having served the community since 1945, the effects of time and the elements had caused significant damage to the original roof. Because of the significant deterioration, a complete roof replacement was recommended.
"The corrosion was significant enough to warrant immediate action" said Bill Deitner, project manager for TKDA, the engineering firm responsible for the roof replacement project.
To ensure that the replacement of the roof would not hinder the completion of painting of the reservoir, TMI Coatings elected to construct the new aluminum roof in a ballfield adjacent to the reservoir. A 150-ton crane was used to hoist the roof frame into place.
"I was absolutely pleased with the entire roof replacement project" said Scott Anderson, Superintendent of Utilities for St. Louis Park. |