Expect delays of up to 20 minutes on the Canoe Canal Path

From ODOT-
Users of the Canoe Canal Path under I-5 in the Whilamut Natural Area will be subject to delays of up to 20 minutes between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (Feb. 21 and 22) for construction work.

The delays will allow contractors to safely install beams for the new northbound I-5 Canoe Canal Bridge. Crews will place the beams over the path using cranes on the old temporary Canoe Canal Bridge.

For your safety, please obey signs and flaggers directing path traffic in the work zone.

Thank you for your patience!

Launching off the ground and over the river

From ODOT-
These photos show where the new northbound Willamette River Bridge will launch off the ground and be suspended over the river. It will be a virtual twin to the new southbound span.

Above, you can see the top couple of feet of the new bridge piles, which were driven deep into the ground to help support the north end of the new bridge. The piling is enclosed in steel caps and a new retaining wall was built behind them.

Above, crews have surrounded the pile caps with reinforcing steel and are building the wooden falsework to create the bridge abutment. Next, they will pour concrete into the forms to create the foundation for the north end of the new bridge. The white material on the left is the form liner, which is used to create the textured finish on the exterior of the new abutment.

Here is a close-up of the textured form liner.

Supporting the bridge columns, Part 2

From ODOT-
In our last post, I told you about using a large drill to create deep shafts for the foundation of the bridge. Here’s what happens next.

Engineers determine how deep to drill each hole based on the strength of the rock required to support the column. The average depth of the shafts for the northbound Willamette River Bridge is 35 feet, but two are as deep as 70 feet

Once the drill reaches the required depth of the shaft, a steel rebar-reinforcing cage is lowered into the hole. These cages weigh between 13,000 and 28,000 pounds.

Crews lower one of the steel rebar-reinforcing cages into the drilled shaft before filling it with concrete.

With the steel cage installed, concrete is poured into the hole and allowed to cure.

Workers pump concrete into the drilled shaft to form the shaft for the columns that will soon follow.

The process of drilling and pouring the bridge shafts take a little over three months from the time the drill is moved onto the site until all 22 shafts are drilled and poured.

Supporting the bridge columns, Part 1

From ODOT-
In addition to two graceful arches supporting the bridge, the new northbound Willamette River Bridge will have nine columns, supported by 22 drilled shafts filled with concrete, which create the foundation for the columns.

The team surveyed and staked column locations before clearing and constructing cofferdams at each site. Next, crews built platforms to accommodate a large drill rig near each cofferdam.

The drill rig can drill to a depth of 200 feet, though for this project, the average depth is 35 feet. The bit or auger attached to the drill rig varies in size, but is typically 8 feet in diameter and 6 feet long. Once the drill is positioned, the drilling takes one to two days per shaft.

The drill rig positioned beside the cofferdam is ready to drill one fo the two shafts at this site.

Initial drilling is usually through soft material, which is removed from the hole. To prevent soil from falling back into the hole, workers insert a temporary steel casing (below) before pouring the shaft.

New pedestrian path on south bank of the Willamette River

This picture shows the route for the new path on the south side of Franklin Boulevard.

From ODOT- Construction crews are preparing the south bank of the Willamette River under the vicinity of Interstate 5 for a new pedestrian path set to open in spring 2014. ODOT is building the path in cooperation with the cities of Eugene and Springfield.

This direct, safer route for pedestrians and bike riders will start east of the Knickerbocker Bridge and run along the riverbank until it joins a new path constructed by the city of Springfield along Franklin Boulevard.

This will be no ordinary path. Beams saved from the recently demolished temporary I-5 detour bridge over the Willamette River will be supported by concrete columns to create a viaduct that will offer great views of the river and new bridges.

The city of Springfield will continue the new path to the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Glenwood Boulevard. Traffic signals will make the intersection safer for path users crossing Franklin Boulevard. Eastbound bike riders will share a wide sidewalk with pedestrians, and westbound cyclists will use a path on the south side of Franklin Boulevard.

We are very excited about these improvements!

We want to see I-5 Willamette River Bridge construction from your perspective

From ODOT-
Here at the I-5 Willamette River Bridge project, the project team, bridge contractors and public involvement staff take lots of photos to document the progress—from before construction started through daily construction.

We have lots of photos featuring the construction side of the project, but there’s something missing: how you, our community partners and project neighbors, see the bridge work.

That’s why we’re inviting amateur and professional photographers to send us your photos of the I-5 Willamette River Bridge and environs—before or during construction.

We’d love to learn how you view the bridge project from your special vantage point — the park paths, the riverbanks, a drift boat floating the river, pictures from last summer’s ceremony, you name it — and what this project means to you.

Please send up to three of your best photos of the Willamette River Bridge to Jyll.E.Smith@odot.state.or.us. Make sure your photos are in JPG format and no larger than 1MB. Once submitted, the photos become the property of ODOT, but we’ll be sure to attribute them to you if we use them in any material.

Photo entries are due Feb. 24. We’ll post the best entries here on our blog site a week later, on March 2.

Happy shutterbugging!

Traveling around the Willamette River Bridge project

From ODOT-
With construction of the new northbound Willamette River Bridge underway, detours and flagger-controlled delays will facilitate safe and easy movement through the project.

Here’s what to expect as you travel:

Ongoing impacts

• The northbound off-ramp from Interstate 5 to Franklin Boulevard is closed until October 2013. To reach Franklin Boulevard, use exit 191 to Glenwood Boulevard. After exiting, turn right on Glenwood Boulevard and travel north to Franklin Boulevard. The detour is clearly marked, with directional signs to businesses along Franklin Boulevard.
• The North Walnut Road path is closed east of I-5 and west through the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.

New impacts

• Franklin Boulevard is subject to single lane closures and flagger-controlled delays, as construction of the new bridge columns and bridge falsework occurs near or over the roadway in the next three months.
• The Canoe Canal path under I-5 is open for all east and westbound pedestrian and bike traffic on the north bank. In late February, expect delays of up to 20 minutes when crews lift the new beams for the Canoe Canal Bridge into place.
• The South Bank Path under I-5 is subject to increased flagger-controlled delays daily due to construction activities.

To date the project has resulted in minimal delays. By following all flagger instructions and project signage, you can continue to travel safely and quickly around the construction area.

Thank you for your patience as we move forward on this bridge replacement!

Canoe Canal — what a difference

From ODOT-
The photos below show the dramatic changes to the walls of the Canoe Canal. Slayden Construction, one of the contractors working on the Willamette River Bridge project, is responsible for the recently completed transformation.

Lowering the walls makes the canal more visible and opens up the embankments on both sides. Crews will complete landscaping and design enhancements by early 2014.

We will replace the temporary wooden railing with a standard steel railing. When the work is finished, path users can walk, run or ride alongside the water, as well as stop to enjoy the canal and reminders of the Kalapuya culture.

This picture, taken in April 2011, shows the Canoe Canal looking east where it passes under Interstate 5 and the Canoe Canal Bridge. The concrete walls along the canal appear as originally constructed in 1974.

This picture, taken this month, also shows the Canoe Canal looking east as it passes under I-5. Walls on both sides are lower and the banks extended. The area on the right side will include both a soft and a hard path separated by a landscaped area.

Crossing the Canoe Canal

From ODOT -

Months before the new northbound Interstate 5 bridge opens to traffic, the new northbound Canoe Canal Bridge will be complete. Located north of the Willamette River, the Canoe Canal Bridge is often referred to as the Patterson Slough Bridge.

All I-5 traffic currently uses the new southbound Canoe Canal bridge, which was completed in early 2011. Construction is under way on the northbound bridge, which will be a duplicate of the southbound bridge.

We are building the concrete abutments to support the precast bridge deck beams first. In late February, the precast beams will be trucked from Harrisburg to the work site and lifted into place. The bridge’s single span design eliminates the need for additional columns, opening up the area under the bridge for safer pedestrian passage.

The picture below shows what remains of the temporary detour bridge, and pile driving on the north bank for the new bridge abutment. The detour bridge will be demolished after the new bridge is complete.

The south bank at Canoe Canal is also being readied. In the photo below, an excavator makes room for the forms and rebar to be placed for the abutment.

Below, a protective cover was built over the Canoe Canal to prevent construction debris from entering the waterway. In addition, it serves as a temporary bridge for workers to move from one side to the other.

Watch a year of construction in less than 2 ½ minutes

From ODOT-
I’m excited about this amazing time-lapse video posted by one of our lead contractors, Slayden Construction. It shows construction work on the Willamette River Bridge project throughout 2011 in just under 2 ½ minutes.

From cameras looking down over the project, you see crews speedily building and paving the new southbound bridge as cars fly by on the temporary detour bridge.

After traffic switches to the new southbound bridge, you see cranes eating away at the temporary bridge, from the top of the deck down to the piers, one by one.

Finally, you see construction of a reinforcing wall to anchor the new northbound bridge to the bank at the south end of the project. One end of the box beams will rest on this abutment and the other end on the first pier.

The video then brings us up to where we are today with the project.

Thank you to JDP Media of Stayton for producing this video, and to Slayden Construction for commissioning it.

ODOT approves design enhancements for north bank natural area

From ODOT-
ODOT has approved two design enhancements proposed by Litus LLC for the Whilamut Naural Area near the new Interstate 5 Willamette River bridges.

Blue engraved stones will be installed on the slope south of the Canoe Canal Path under Interstate 5. Fifteen stones will depict the life cycle of the abundant camas, from the bulb's edible underground roots, to its open flowers, to its seeds falling to the ground.

The designs reflect the "Whilamut Passage" theme selected by the community in 2009. When completed in 2014, the installation will enhance local understanding of the Kalapuya culture and the area inhabited by Native Americans.

Teams from the Community Involvement and Long-term Ownership Strategy (CILOS) will participate in the restoration of 3.5 acres of land in the Whilamut Natural Area. They will restore the Willamette Valley upland and prairie habitat by removing non-native vegetation and planting native species. They will add design enhancements consisting of singing perches for birds created by supported tree snags. Some 14 local schools working in groups of 20 - 40 students per school will complete the project over three years. Ongoing education and awareness is an important aspect of this project.

Here's a rendering of the singing perches to be placed in the Whilamut Natural Area.

Over the past few months, a Design Enhancement Steering Committee has worked with the local designers to develop the final recommendation. The Citizen Advisory Group and the Project Development Team reviewed the designs at the end of November and recommended them to ODOT. We have approved the recommendation and will move forward with contracting with Litus for final designs, with installation to be completed by spring 2014.

ODOT appreciates Litus' work and all the volunteers who helped develop these enhancements. They will certainly benefit the area for generations.

Temporary bridge piers lifeted out of river

From ODOT-The last phase of disassembling the temporary bridge over the Willamette River was lifting the piers out of the river. Divers cut the piers flush with the river bottom, so nothing was left to obstruct fish passage or river users.

A large work bridge supported the heavy equipment that lifted the piers. It was also used as the work platform to demolish the piers and separate material for recycling or reuse. In addition, it prevented any debris from falling in the river.

High-capacity cranes on the work bridge held each pier steady as it was cut and then lifted out of the water. Crews drilled 3-inch diameter holes through each pier, inserted a large bolt, then attached cables from the cranes to the bolt.

The piers weighted 6,500 pounds per foot. Each crane lifted up to 80,000 pounds depending on the length of each segment. Once out of the water, each pier segment was set aside for the demolition activity.

Now that all the piers are removed, bridge demolition over the Willamette River is complete and we are ready to build the new northbound bridge.

These pictures show crews placing a temporary bridge pier from the river onto the work bridge.

Before crews can cut the piers for removal, they must dive in and torch the steel casings that envelop the piers.

Our latest newsletter is now available online

From ODOT-
Our December newsletter pays tribute to community volunteers who have worked hard to make the Willamette River Bridge project so successful and highlights recent construction and environmental activities.

If you haven't read our project newsletter lately, take a peek. We publish it four times a year to update you on construction work and on mobility and safety notices. We distribute our newsletter to more than 975 interested readers and electronic copies are available in the library section of our project website.

To subscribe to the project newsletter, please call Nichole Hayward at (541) 484-7052 or send an email to nichole@cawood.com. To save taxpayer dollars- and trees- we send the newsletter by email unless you ask for a printed copy. Our newsletter is also available in alternative formats by requests.

Happy reading, and Happy New Year to one and all!

Construction work takes a holiday Dec. 23 to Jan. 3

From ODOT-In the week before Christmas, our contractor crews have been wrapping up their in-water work to remove all traces of the old detour bridge columns before taking a well-deserved holiday break. Construction work on the Willamette River Bridge project will stop the afternoon of Dec. 23, with crews returning to work in the New Year on Jan. 3. During the holiday work break, the construction site is still an active work zone and safety remains our No. 1 priority. We will post a 24-hour security team at the construction site to keep it safe. Drivers and park users will still have to pay attention to construction signs, path detours and construction speed zone restrictions. There is bound to be more park use over the holiday week, so cyclists should watch their speed and keep a sharp lookout for other path users as well. When work resumes in January, crews will focus on drilling large shafts deep into bedrock for the foundations that will support the new northbound bridge. They will start their work south of the railroad tracks, moving north as they go. Starting in mid-January, you may catch a glimpse of the big drills at work as you travel along Franklin Boulevard under the freeway. Happy Holidays from the entire project team, the ODOT construction team in Springfield and our contractor crews from Hamilton Construction!

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.