Some here had a similar reaction to the new 17th Street bridge over the interstate in downtown Atlanta: We missed an opportunity to create a signature structure. Not quite the same as in Minneapolis, as ours wasn't built to correct a major disruption in interstate traffic.

Kudos to those involved for getting the I-35W bridge replaced ahead of schedule.

I drove over the new 35W bridge for the first time this week. Rather uneventful. Like any of the other hundreds of bridges I cross every day.
My driving habits rarely take me that way; I lived here for one year before the collapse and only drove over it a time or two. It's not really some special "gateway" into the city so I don't see why it needs to look spectacular. Just get drivers safely over the river.