Veneta second-graders see Willamette River Bridge work, up close

From ODOT-

We recently hosted some very special visitors here at the Willamette River Bridge site.

Two classes of Veneta Elementary School second-graders, their teachers and a handful of parent chaperones capped their “day of science” here to see firsthand how a bridge is built. They were thrilled to be escorted by Hamilton Construction’s traffic control truck, with lights flashing, to the north staging area of the work zone.

The students walked out on the Knickerbocker bike-pedestrian bridge where they learned the sequence of building bridges. They also learned about some of the project’s environmental and park improvements. The children were amazed at the size of the bridge, even from the distant vantage point on the Knickerbocker bridge.

Upon arrival at the staging area, I led the students through safety protocols and let them suit up in adult-size reflective vests, hardhats and safety glasses. They also got an up-close look at one of the cranes and stood in awe of its wheels, which were taller than their teachers.

The last session was a lesson on concrete. We told our audience that the cement truck process was similar to mixing a cake, an analogy that drew laughs from the students. The group also reviewed the essential elements of construction: labor, materials, equipment and know-how.

The field trip was exciting for the students and rewarding to all of us building the bridge. We made them promise to come back and visit when they are fourth-graders so they can see how things have changed.

Students trying on safety equipment as part of their bridge-building lesson. Students learning how concrete becomes part of the bridge.