Crossing the Canoe Canal

From ODOT -

Months before the new northbound Interstate 5 bridge opens to traffic, the new northbound Canoe Canal Bridge will be complete. Located north of the Willamette River, the Canoe Canal Bridge is often referred to as the Patterson Slough Bridge.

All I-5 traffic currently uses the new southbound Canoe Canal bridge, which was completed in early 2011. Construction is under way on the northbound bridge, which will be a duplicate of the southbound bridge.

We are building the concrete abutments to support the precast bridge deck beams first. In late February, the precast beams will be trucked from Harrisburg to the work site and lifted into place. The bridge’s single span design eliminates the need for additional columns, opening up the area under the bridge for safer pedestrian passage.

The picture below shows what remains of the temporary detour bridge, and pile driving on the north bank for the new bridge abutment. The detour bridge will be demolished after the new bridge is complete.

The south bank at Canoe Canal is also being readied. In the photo below, an excavator makes room for the forms and rebar to be placed for the abutment.

Below, a protective cover was built over the Canoe Canal to prevent construction debris from entering the waterway. In addition, it serves as a temporary bridge for workers to move from one side to the other.