The planning behind the construction

From ODOT-

If you pass by the project site regularly, you’ve seen the two graceful bridges take shape across the Willamette River. What you don’t see is the coordination that makes it possible.

Communication is critical in such a dynamic project. Every Wednesday, Hamilton Construction Manager Con O’Connor and I meet with the superintendents, safety manager, project engineers and the traffic control manager. At this weekly meeting, the team orchestrates upcoming tasks, identifies potential issues and solves problems. Whatever the issue – coordinating timing of material deliveries, ensuring ample manpower for tying rebar grids, or evaluating erosion-control measures, for example – a cohesive, coordinated planning team makes sure it all gets done.

The primary outcome of each Wednesday’s meeting is a projected three-week schedule that we review each Thursday in our weekly construction meeting with representatives from the main construction partners, Hamilton and Slayden, as well as members of our engineering, inspection, safety and public involvement teams. Here we make sure everyone’s on the same page about upcoming activities, whether related to demolition, bridge work or roadway work. Then we are able to identify where extra efforts are needed to ensure staffing is available and the public is kept safe and informed.

In a construction project, tasks are bound to change due to scheduling conflicts or uncontrollable factors such as the weather. As a team, the Willamette River Bridge staff uses the most current information available and communicates often with all involved parties to ensure that everything runs smoothly as possible.