| OR 43: Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge |
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| Project Summary: |
The historic Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge spanning the Willamette River has been a source of community pride since its opening in December 1922. However, after more than 88 years, this famous old bridge is in need of repairs.
Throughout the bridge, the deck, joints, rails, lighting and protective coating of the arch span require repair and replacement.
To protect the safety of all, the narrow bridge must be closed for approximately two years. Vehicles will detour over the nearby I-205 Abernethy Bridge. A shuttle service will accommodate bicycle and pedestrian travel throughout construction.
Work on the bridge will begin summer 2010. The full closure of the bridge will not occur before January 2011 and is expected to be reopened to traffic in 2013.
As of March 2009, the bridge is closed to all commercial motor vehicles and all vehicles weighing more than 14 tons.
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| Get Latest Information: |
ODOT will be sharing information and project updates in a periodic electronic newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter, please email Susan.C.Hanson@odot.state.or.us. Your information will not be shared.
Read the most recent update (July 12, 2010)
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| Project Information |
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The historic Oregon City/West Linn arch bridge on Oregon 43, spanning the Willamette River, has been a source of community pride since its opening in December 1922. Today the historically significant bridge is in need of repairs.
Although some utility work will occur first, the bridge repairs will begin in summer 2010. The full closure of the bridge will not occur before January 2011.
The main span’s exterior “Gunite” concrete covering was applied to the steel arches and other steel bridge components during the bridge’s construction to protect them from the corrosive environment once associated with the nearby mills. Today, portions of this protective covering are deteriorating and will need to be repaired.
Some areas of the deck support beams in the main span are showing signs of deterioration. These will be fixed and the entire deck will get a new overlay.
The historic rails are substandard and severely deteriorated. Craftsmen will replicate the railing with a safer design while retaining its historic look. Additionally, the historic lights will be restored. These along with other repairs will return the bridge back to its historic look and feel.
Read Frequently Asked Questions about the upcoming bridge rehabilitation project.
Click here for a brief history of the OR 43 Willamette River Bridge.
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| Latest News |
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July 30, 2010: Project Update
Willamette River users will be the first to notice work on a $10.6 million rehabilitation of the historic Oregon City / West Linn Arch Bridge, which begins next week.
Barges will move up the Willamette River and be installed Tuesday at the base of the 88-year-old bridge. The barges, used as work platforms and also to prevent material from impending bridge work from going into the river, are anchored by cable attached to each shore.
With barges in place, the river channel will shrink to 120 feet wide, requiring boaters to use additional caution as they move through the area. Fishing is not allowed near the barges while they are in the river and access to the current fishing dock is restricted while the barges are in place.
Project work begins this summer, but the bridge will not close until at least mid-January 2011. It will remain closed for two years while the contractor Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene replaces and repairs the deck, joints, rails, lighting and protective coating on its famous arch span.
The bridge must be closed to all traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians for approximately two years during the rehabilitation. Motorists will detour over the nearby Interstate 205 Abernethy Bridge. A shuttle bus service will serve bicyclists and pedestrians.
The Oregon City / West Linn Arch Bridge opened in 1922 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Oregon State Bridge Engineer Conde McCullough, who also designed many of Oregon’s lauded coastal bridges on U.S. 101.
July 12, 2010: Project Update
The contractor for this project, Wildish Standard Paving, has set up their field office adjacent to the project site on the West Linn side of the river. They are beginning to mobilize for the start of the project.
One of the first activities is setting up cables and booms in the river for the barges that are expected to be in place in August. We have notified regulatory agencies about the final barge plans. These agencies include the Coast Guard, Oregon State Marine Board and the Clackamas County Marine Patrol.
The barges, which are each 50-60 feet long, provide stable platforms for work occurring during all phases of the project. The cables anchor the barges to the shore and the booms protect boaters from running into the cables. The booms also have lights on them so they can be seen at nighttime. Due to this equipment in the river, access to each shore will be restricted in the work area. We are notifying river users about this using a variety of methods.
The full closure of the bridge will not occur until January 15, 2011 at the earliest. There will be intermittent single lane closures this summer and fall.
Our staff recently met with the League of West Linn Neighborhoods to give them a project update.
May 21, 2010: Project Update
The successful bidder for the bridge rehabilitation project is Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene, Oregon. They are currently finalizing their detailed project schedule. As soon as all the appropriate paperwork is complete and a notice to proceed is issued, Wildish will begin mobilization. As stated before, the full closure of the bridge will not occur until January 15, 2011 at the earliest. There will be intermittent single lane closures this summer and fall.
Work will start this summer, including inspection of the arch ribs inside the chambers at the base of the bridge on each side. You will also see the contractor mobilizing equipment, establishing mooring points for the barges and the barges moving into place on the river.
The inspection work inside the arches is currently wrapping up and the scaffolding will be removed soon so both sidewalks will be open.
This past week, ODOT staff hosted an information table at Willamette Falls Lock Fest where we talked with about 100 people about the project. Staff also attended the Bolton Neighborhood meeting to give a presentation on the project.
April 30, 2010: Project Update
Bids have been received for the bridge rehabilitation and an apparent successful bidder has been identified. After all the necessary review is done and a notice to proceed has been issued, we will announce the name of the successful contractor. ODOT staff are pleased with the experience and expertise of the bidders. As mentioned in an earlier update, it will be 7-8 weeks before any work starts.
The inspection work inside the arches continues by ODOT and a contractor’s staff. The purpose is to assess the condition of the steel inside the arches. Measurements are being taken and reviewed to determine any needed repairs. The work is complete on the upstream side and the scaffolding tower has moved to the downstream side. There will be single-lane closures on the bridge for the assembly and subsequent disassembly of the scaffolding.
April 5, 2010: Project Update
The contract for rehabilitating the Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge is out for bid. A mandatory pre-bid meeting for interested contractors will include a tour of the bridge. As mentioned in a previous update, ODOT is using a special contracting process to retain a primary contractor who has the specific experience needed to do the job effectively and efficiently. Bids are due April 20 and it will be 7-8 weeks before the contractor starts the first work on the project.
Based on feedback from the business community ODOT’s contract stipulates the full closure of the bridge cannot occur before January 15, 2011. The closure is expected to last 24 months and there are daily financial penalties if the closure exceeds the time period in the contract.
Part of the contractor’s first work will be to inspect the condition of the steel underneath the “Gunite,” where the arches contact the two riverbanks. The intent is to have a thorough look at the “arch chambers,” where silt and water have accumulated over the years, to assess the condition of the steel under the “Gunite” coating. This will help the contractor develop an accurate picture of the needed repairs. This work will occur this summer.
Currently, towers have been assembled on the sidewalks to allow access into the arches. ODOT inspectors will be checking the condition of the steel arches from inside. There will be single-lane closures on the bridge for the assembly and subsequent disassembly of the scaffolding.
A mailing will go out this summer detailing the project and construction timeline for residents and businesses throughout the area. It also will emphasize that during the construction period businesses are open and easy access is available via the detour and shuttle service.
February 2010: Project Update
ODOT staff have been working on final preparations for construction bids for the bridge rehabilitation. It is expected that the contract will be awarded late this spring and preliminary work is likely to start this summer.
The agency has worked extensively with local community and business leaders, and ODOT’s strategy incorporates the concerns they have expressed. Key points include:
• Strategically timed closure. ODOT will not start the planned two-year closure until January, 2011, at the earliest. Prior to the full closure, however, the bridge will be closed briefly, a handful of times for inspections.
• A different kind of contracting process. Instead of selecting the lowest bidder, project managers are using a special contracting process to retain a primary contractor who has the specific experience needed to do this work effectively and quickly.
• Thorough inspection. ODOT plans to conduct an additional inspection suggested in the Federal Highway Administration’s review of the project. The results of the inspection will help project leaders create an accurate timeline for the work. ODOT staff and an engineering contractor will inspect the arch ribs of the bridge with ultrasonic equipment in late March or early April. To conduct this inspection, the sidewalk—one side at a time--will need to be closed for one month.
Read 2009 project updates
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| ODOT Contact Information |
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Rick Keene, ODOT Project Leader
(503) 731-3289
Rick.K.Keene@odot.state.or.us
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Susan Hanson, ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator
(503) 731-3490
Susan.C.Hanson@odot.state.or.us
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