| Elk Creek bridge replacement draws national attention |
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| And Elkton makes 12: FHWA event showcases latest ODOT rapid replacement |
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Workers prepare for second rapid replacement bridge roll nea
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What do the Mill Creek Bridge near Madras, the new Sauvie Island Bridge near Portland, and the Elk Creek Tunnel bridges near Elkton have in common? ODOT replaced them all using the innovative rapid replacement technique, which cuts delays due to lane closures and avoids detour routes, keeping motorists mobile.
The Elkton bridges received national attention in September when the Federal Highway Administration sponsored a project showcase featuring the second of the two rapid replacement bridge “rolls” on the Elk Creek bridges. Over a weekend, the old bridge was demolished and the new bridge slid into place.
The FHWA’s Highways for Life grant program had awarded ODOT $1 million toward rapid replacement. As part of its commitment to Congress in allocating the money, the Highways for Life program showcases model projects to update other highway experts on the latest innovative construction techniques.
Thirty-five people came from across the country to see the cutting-edge project, including transportation professionals from Montana, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Phillip Ditzler, head of the FHWA’s Oregon office, gave the welcome address and talked about the program.
“Speeding up bridge construction in high-traffic urban areas is important, but it’s just as critical in rural settings with steep canyons, deep river beds or tunnels,” said Ditzler. “Without the many alternative routes available in towns and cities, drivers in remote areas would be forced to travel many miles on detour routes.”
Larry Gescher, project manager for contractor Slayden Construction, outlined for the group exactly how the new bridge would be rolled into place and described the community outreach that preceded it. Audience members were particularly interested in public involvement efforts with local schools. Student designed decorative pylons that will be unveiled Nov. 19. Slayden also distributed a primer on rapid replacement that was well received.
Later that evening in Elkton, several attendees visited the bridge site to watch the demolition of the old structure. Operators of the enormous compression hammers deftly set their tracks on the beams and busted up the deck right underneath their machinery.
On Saturday morning, the group reconvened in Elkton for the bridge slide. The process took about an hour, as the new bridge, which had been built on hydraulic skids, slid into place. The bridge was open to traffic on Sunday evening.
Following the slide, the mayor of Elkton presented the FHWA representatives with a certificate of appreciation, thanking them for the $1 million grant that defrayed the cost of rapid replacement and vastly improved mobility for Elkton residents and travelers using Oregon 38 during construction.
“The success of these two bridge rolls will benefit us all as we rebuild more highway infrastructure in the future,” said Region 3 Manager Paul Mather. “Local commuters and visitors who rely on Oregon 38 to get to Coos Bay and the Oregon Dunes had much smoother trips because of the rapid replacement technique.”
ODOT has used rapid replacement in 10 other locations, including floating the new Sauvie Island Bridge into place last December on a 300-foot barge.
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