The old and the new

From ODOT-

I really like this picture showing the new southbound bridge on the right, alongside the old detour structure that we are replacing.

The graceful arches of new southbound Interstate 5 Willamette River Bridge right, stand in contrast to the long row of piers for the temporary detour bridge built in 2004.

The stark difference between a basic temporary bridge to one that has beautiful architectural details, graceful arches and far fewer piers in the water, is striking.



This month, we will begin replacing the temporary detour bridge with a new northbound span. It will be a twin of the southbound bridge.

Boy Scouts help with habitat project

From ODOT-

A team of Boy Scouts recently helped us out by conducting small scale environmental improvement work on Augusta Creek. They placed wood and gravel into the creek to improve fish passage. They completed this in one day and by the next day, the water was clear and the site looked great.



We would like to thank Boy Scout Troop 100 as well as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, who led the effort.



This picture shows the newly improved Augusta Creek.

Sound wall design, landscape combine to reflect natural features

From ODOT- While Laurel Hill Valley neighbors have enjoyed the “quieter” benefits of their new sound wall since December, work on the landscaping continues.



Recently, crews installed topsoil and an irrigation system that will support an attractive landscape of plants that are native to the area.



To place the topsoil, crews closed the western shoulder of the southbound Interstate 5 on-ramp from Franklin Boulevard and pumped soil over the wall.

Landscape planting will take place on both sides of the wall, using several native plant species depending on expected height and coverage.



When the bridge project is done in 2014, neighbors and drivers alike will see an attractive blend of native vegetation and sculptured wall forms representing natural features found in the area.



Thanks to the great input and cooperation of the Laurel Hill Valley neighbors, the sound wall will be more than just a noise barrier between homes and the freeway. The blend of the design enhancements and native plants will reflect the local geology, and historic landscape of the southern Willamette Valley.

A trip down memory lane

From ODOT- As construction continues on the new Willamette River Bridge, take a trip down memory lane to remember the original bridge and how its construction helped pave the way for Oregon’s interstate future nearly 50 years ago.



Before this link in the nation’s north-south interstate highway system on the West Coast was built, drivers had to exit the unfinished interstate and navigate local streets through the Eugene-Springfield area before reconnecting with I-5.



As construction continues and milestones are met on the new bridge, we are excited to have received historic photos from former ODOT employee Kenneth Lodewick that show the construction of the original bridge and how it linked I-5 over the Willamette River. I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I do.

Construction of the original Willamette River Bridge circa 1960.

See more historic photos of this project here.