Got questions? We have answers.

From ODOT-

As ODOT’s Willamette River Bridge Project manager, I often talk to local groups and provide public tours. Here is a sampling of the questions people ask.

Q: What will happen to the staging area in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park when construction is complete?

A: We will restore this large area to its original condition and plant 7,000 camas bulbs to reflect the Kalapuya heritage in the area.

The staging area in the Whilamut Natural Area currently holds construction equipment and materials used on the bridge replacement.

Q: What are anti-access walls? 

A: They are 8-foot-tall concrete walls at the base of each arch that deter people from climbing the arches from the riverbank.

Workers pour concrete for an anti-access wall at the bottom of a bridge arch.

Q: How many expansion joints does each bridge have?

A: There are five expansion joints on each bridge to allow for movement caused by temperature changes, protecting bridge parts from damage.

Q: Does the project have webcams? If so, where are they?

A: There are three webcams on the project. Two are on the billboard near Chambers Construction and the other is between the two bridges on the north bank.  Our webcams provide the public with a live look at construction activity and collect footage that we are able to turn into a time-lapse video.

Q: What happens to the wooden and steel falsework  when it’s no longer needed?

A: Most of the falsework is used and reused multiple times on the project before crews remove and recycle it. Aside from plywood, which has limited reuse, lumber and steel falsework components are saved and stored by the contractor for future projects.

Q: How many work hours have been logged on this project?

A: From July 2009 through December 2012, construction crews logged 279,722 hours of labor on this project.

And my favorite question from a second grader visting the project:

Q: What is the name of the crane operator?

A: John.

I appreciate the public’s curiosity about the project. It is refreshing to realize there is so much interest in every aspect of the bridge replacement work — from construction, environment and safety to our incredible team.