The latest newsletter is now available

From ODOT-

Our Willamette River Bridge project fall newsletter is now available.



Take a look to see pictures of the new arches under construction and get a rare glance at the inside of a bridge span before the top deck is paved. You can also see the newly enhanced stream bed on the south bank of the river.



The newsletter also features articles about the Whilamut Passage Bridge naming ceremony and design enhancement updates.



Our project newsletter is distributed electronically. To get a copy sent directly to your inbox, please email Nichole@cawood.com.



If you have a question about the project, a suggestion for a future newsletter article or a photo of the construction work you’d like to share with us, please contact me at jyll.e.smith@odot.state.or.us.



Thank you and happy reading!

Crews form and pour first concrete deck for northbound bridge

From ODOT-

In late 2011, work began on the new northbound bridge spans on both banks of the river.  The shorter of the spans, located on the north bank, is nearly complete with the recent deck pour. Here’s a step-by-step look at how the span and deck were created.



During early construction of the new bridge, temporary piles were driven into the riverbank. The piles support wood and steel faslework needed for construction in preparation for work on the bridge support columns for the north bank span. The new southbound bridge in the background shows how the columns and deck will look when completed.

With the columns complete, the falsework was built and rebar installed to create the box girder beams that support the bridge deck and connect it to the arch span over the river.

Once the beams were complete, wooden forms were built to create the deck. Above, workers install and tie steel rebar in preparation to pour the bridge deck.

Here, the newly poured deck is curing under a cover. The new deck has to cure for about two weeks to reach full strength. Before the new span will be ready for traffic, the crossbeams supporting the deck are post-tensioned using internal cables that make them even stronger.

We hope you like our behind-the-scenes photo stories. Please take a moment to ask a question, make a comment or suggest another part of our construction project you’d like to know more about.