Southbound Willamette River Bridge nearly done

From ODOT-

You’ll soon have a unique opportunity to walk across the new southbound Interstate 5 Willamette River Bridge at the Aug. 18 opening event.



It will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the river views from the shiny new bridge at a human scale and pace rather than at highway speeds.



Below are photos of the bridge deck, showing final preparations under way.

Workers placed and hand-tied tied tons of steel reinforcing before pouring and smoothing the concrete to create a strong yet flexible bridge deck.

Crew members prepare to join a new section of bridge deck, at right, to one that was formed and poured earlier, at left.

The newly paved asphalt shoulder contrasts sharply with the shiny white concrete of the southbound bridge. The cranes in the background mark where the main span crosses the river.

The new southbound bridge is wide enough to be striped to temporarily carry both directions of freeway traffic as the new northbound bridge is built. From a bird’s-eye view, you can see the gentle curve of the new southbound bridge. The temporary I-5 bridge is to the right. 

The new bridge sports a strong steel railing that will allow drivers a view of the river below.