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.

Keeping the public and our workers safe while placing beams

From ODOT-

Safety comes first on all our construction projects. For the Canoe Canal Bridge project, safety measures allow the public to pass through the work zone on Franklin Boulevard, the railroad or the many pedestrian paths during construction.



When we placed the support beams on the bridge abutments, we protected the equipment operators, the workers on the ground and the pedestrians and bicyclists using the paths in a variety of ways.



In advance of the work, signs along the path alerted users to the upcoming delays. We placed notices on the project website and blog, and notified local stakeholders through email messages. As the beams were placed, flaggers delayed path users until it was safe to pass.

Flagger shown in the lower right corner is stopping a bicyclist until the beam is set into place.

At all times workers wear standard hard hats, safety vests and other safety equipment. In addition, workers who need to climb on the beams use safety harnesses and ropes attached to the beams to protect them in case of a fall.

A worker is protected by a safety rope while he is on the beam.

Building cofferdams is the first step in building the new northbound bridge

From ODOT -
With the temporary bridge removed, construction on the new northbound Willamette River Bridge drilled shafts will begin early in the new year. We plan to open this bridge to traffic by fall 2013. Before then, a lot of work needs to be done.
A critical first step is constructing cofferdams. These temporary enclosures keep water and soil out of the work area while we build new bridge footings and shafts in the river and on each bank.
To build our cofferdams, crews drive sheet piles deep down to the bedrock to establish a enclosure. They then excavate soil from inside the enclosure. Water may be needed to be pumped out to create a dry and safe work space.
When the cofferdams are finished, we will use large drilling equipment to bore holes deep in the ground so workers can install steel reinforcement and pour concrete shafts to provide support for the bridge columns.
We’ll have more photos and details on building the new bridge as construction work continues.
This photo shows one of the cofferdams from the southbound bridge.

Answers to safety hazards quiz

From ODOT-

Last week we asked if you could identify the hazards that would be modern OSHA violations in this historic construction photo of the original Willamette River Bridge. Congratulations to an anonymous commenter who identified several that we found plus pointed out additional hazards.



Please see below for answers.

1. All workers are wearing hard hats made of conductive material.

2. None of the workers is wearing a fall protection harness.



3. The workers are not wearing gloves during concrete placement.



4. There are no fire protection (“No Smoking”) signs near the fuel can.



5. There’s no fire extinguisher in the area near fuel storage.



6. There’s no guardrail at the leading edge of the deck.



7. Materials litter and block the walkway.



8. The scaffolding is not complete in the middle of the walkway.



9. The ladder is not 36 inches above the top of the wall.



10. The scaffolding is not compliant to current standards: It’s not cleated, and the wrong grade of lumber is being used for the scaffolding planks.



11. There’s no guardrail on the scaffolding.



12. The worker is not wearing hearing protection during concrete vibration.



13. The worker is smoking while working with concrete and near flammable fuel storage.



14. The workers are not wearing eye and face protection during concrete placement.



Bonus: There’s no eye wash in the area during concrete placement.

Can you spot the safety hazards?

From ODOT-

ODOT’s top priority is safety—for both the traveling public and roadside workers. Because of Oregon’s robust safety program, our contractor, Hamilton Construction, and its crews have worked 25,681 hours on this project without a time-loss injury.





While we always make safety our top priority, bridge construction sites of 50 years ago looked very different than those today.



Safety regulations and practices have come a long way since the construction of the original Interstate 5 Willamette River Bridge in 1961. Construction equipment, tools and techniques have improved safety and operations over the years. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations have helped to protect workers since 1970.



So let’s take a trip in the time machine and go back 50 years.



Can you spot the hazards that would be modern OSHA violations in this historic construction photo of the original Willamette River Bridge?



Put your answers in the comment section of this post. We will reveal the answers on the blog next week. Good luck!