Everybody likes watching big things being built.

From ODOT-
Now’s a perfect time to go see the construction of the new I-5 Willamette River Bridge. A great spot to watch the work is from the Knickerbocker pedestrian and bike bridge in Alton Baker Park.

Right now, installation of the bridge arch “falsework” is starting on the north bank of the Willamette River. Falsework is the temporary steel and wooden structures used to form the bridge arches. After the falsework is completely framed, steel reinforcing bars—called rebar—will be inserted and tied together to strengthen the arches before workers begin pouring concrete to form them.

Contractors will pump high-strength concrete into the bridge falsework from large trucks. Later, once the concrete hardens, the falsework will be removed, revealing the new bridge arches for the first time. The falsework for the first set of arches is scheduled to be removed around August.

The falsework is visible from several vantage points, but the Knickerbocker Bridge provides the best vantage point. There you have a perfect view of the construction work on the new Willamette River Bridge. You can return often to watch how construction goes and see the arches take form. Binoculars can give you a close-up view of the work.

Enjoy your next visit.

~Dick Upton