Almost two years after severe flooding in southern Minnesota destroyed the County Road 9 bridge in Rapidan, Blue Earth County officials said they’re closer to constructing a new bridge.
Ryan Thilges, Blue Earth County engineer and public works director, said they will open sealed bids to finalize a construction contract as soon as the county receives project approvals and permits. If everything checks out, construction will likely start in early winter 2026 and last two years.
The cost to build the new bridge including preliminary planning and engineering is about $28.5 million, according to Thilges. The Federal Highway Administration is providing about $25 million.
Torrential flood waters breached the Rapidan Dam on June 24, 2024, damaging the neighboring County Road 9 bridge. Later that August, Blue Earth County voted to remove the historic dam.
The bridge was unsalvageable. Demolition work started in late 2024 and wrapped in early summer 2025.
A pillar on the Highway 9 bridge remains exposed, showing the damage that was done to it by flooding in June 2024. Photographed on Oct. 27, 2024. On Thurday, Jan. 23, 2025 Gov. Tim Walz announced a proposed bill to fund infrastructure projects around the state. The bill would partially fund the rebuilding of the bridge.
Jackson Forderer for MPR News file
“It’s a massive project, and I’m really proud of our staff and our consulting firm that we worked with on fast-tracking it,” Thilges said. “I know a lot of people will say two years isn’t very fast to get a bridge designed and another two years to build it, but on something of this magnitude, it was definitely a heavy lift.”
The bridge design changed significantly from initial estimates, including erosion-resistant supports. Thilges said it allowed the county to eliminate a significant amount of rip rap river armoring – large stones or boulders to protect stream banks from erosion – to save costs.
While the cost of the new bridge increased, Thilges said it will be more resilient and able to withstand erosion.
The project will take two years because of the size and complexity of the bridge, the work in and around the river and the lead time required for steel beams. Currently, the project design is submitted and awaiting approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
A construction worker looks at a large chunk of concrete and rebar that was taken off of the Highway 9 bridge moments earlier at the site of the Rapidan Dam in Mankato, on Jan. 23, 2025.
Jackson Forderer for MPR News file
Thilges said after evaluating numerous different options, the current location of the former bridge was the best site for the replacement. The structure will actually be longer and slightly narrower than what was there before, he said.
“It had to be made longer to meet the site now with the washout and ensure that in the near term and long term, it would remain stable and safe from future damage,” he said.
What about Rapidan Dam?
Currently, the dam removal project faces delays and is contingent on acquiring right-of-way from private landowners, which might inflate design and cost estimates. The dam removal project will incorporate future river access for recreational use and reestablish access to the former campground park area.
Thilges said obtaining relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is complex, including quantifying damages and creating a hypothetical repair plan. Building bridges is much easier in comparison, he said.
“We build a lot of bridges, and there’s a known process for building bridges,” he said. “Dam removals in the state, especially of this magnitude, is really kind of – especially after a flood event like this – is really somewhat unchartered territory.”
A construction worker uses a large jackhammer to chip away at concrete and rebar on the Highway 9 bridge that spans the Blue Earth River near the Rapidan Dam on Jan. 23, 2025. The integrity of the bridge became compromised during flooding in the spring of 2024. Blue Earth County Engineer and Public Works Director Ryan Thilges said they hope to have the bridge rebuilt in 2027.
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Pega Architecture
Pegasystems’ BPM architecture centralizes process objects, rules, user interfaces, and specifications, separating it from other BPM tools like IBM Lombardi or Oracle BPM. Unlike these tools, Pega avoids the fragmentation of tools for reporting, process design, integration, requirement selection, and screen design.
The core competent components of the pega architecture are:
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Pega PRPC
Pega PRPC, or Pega Rules Process Commander, serves as the central component of PegaSystems. PRPC is a model-driven platform that eliminates the need for coding in languages like Java, HTML, SQL, and CSS.
PRPC comprises two units:
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What are the uses of PRPC ?
PRPC offers several advantages:
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It adapts easily to evolving business needs.
Efficiency of BPM workflow tools
BPM tools offer comprehensive capabilities, including workflow management, form generation, business rule engines, analytics, and integrations. These tools enable businesses to leverage data, generate metrics, and define standard and custom reports. They simplify complex workflows, support the creation of intricate business rules, facilitate web-form development, and promote collaboration.
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Features of the Pega BPM
Pega BPM boasts several key features that empower organizations to streamline their business processes effectively:
Quick Integration with IT Infrastructure: Pega BPM seamlessly integrates with your existing IT infrastructure, facilitating a swift and efficient transition.
Service-Oriented Architecture: Pega follows a service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach, ensuring flexibility and scalability in your business processes.
Rules-Driven Process Alignment: Pega BPM emphasizes rules-driven alignment of business processes, allowing for consistency and adherence to predefined rules and guidelines.
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Phases of the Pega BPM software:
Pega BPM is structured into five distinct phases, each contributing to the efficient execution of business processes:
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Control Phase:
The Control phase plays a vital role in maintaining a smooth flow of processes. It ensures that methods are well-monitored and managed, reducing disruptions and bottlenecks.
Monitor Phase:
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Optimize Phase:
The Optimize phase leverages the data collected to refine and enhance the modelling process. It assesses the gathered insights to identify further improvements in the process, promoting continuous optimization.
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Advantages and disadvantages of pega BPM
The advantages of the pega BPM are:
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Innovative solutions at competitive prices.
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Versatile data structures like “Data Pages.”
Disadvantages of Pega BPM include:
Learning curve, particularly with Pega 7.
Challenges in finding resources with Pega 7 expertise.
Limited promotion of Pega 7 and Pega Express as standalone iBPMS channels.
Cost concerns for larger enterprises relative to value.
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Applications of BPM Software
BPM software finds applications in diverse areas such as compliance, complaint management, loan origination, project management, invoice processing, account management, employee onboarding, and expense reporting.
Choosing the Right BPM Tool
Selecting the right BPM tool involves considering factors like cost, hosting options, usability, responsiveness, and integrations. Costs may vary based on factors such as user base size, customization options, on-site vs. cloud software, and more. Usability plays a crucial role in user adoption and technical proficiency. Automation depends on proper integration, while responsive web design ensures an intuitive user experience. Hosting options should align with the organization’s resources and scalability needs.
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Conclusion
PEGA became a great tool in the software ecosystem. The features and benefits of PEGA acquired more customer base as they are a user friendly and integrated system. The RPA version has paved the way in emerging technologies by process of automation. Its AI or Software Robots have fit in today’s industrial advancements. PEGA’s various features attracted users to look into it. In this article, we have provided the necessary information regarding PEGA. If you need further details regarding training and online sessions, contact us.
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