| SW Iowa Street Viaduct Replacement Project |
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Project Summary:
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This is a project to replace the I-5 viaduct structures that cross over a ravine that leads to Iowa Street in Southwest Portland. Construction began in the summer of 2010 and will continue through 2013. Click here for a project summary.
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Latest Information
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Work started on this project in summer 2010. Click here to see the weekly construction update on this project.
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RETAINING WALLS
For the past couple of months, ODOT solicited feedback from the community on potential wall treatments for the retaining walls in the project area. We've attended several public forums and events, and used an online survey to gauge interest in possible wall treatments common to walls along Oregon freeways (see below for the three options considered). The most popular wall treatment based on feedback we received is Oregon Basalt, which ODOT will install on the main walls facing motorists and residents. Thanks to everyone who participated. You can view an illustration of the Oregon Basalt treatment here: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/iowaviaduct/OregonBasalt.pdf
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Traffic has shifted to the west on the detour bridge. Please drive safely through the project area.
Demolition Schedule
The contractor plans to begin demolition of the northbound viaduct on Monday, Nov. 14. Work will take place during the day from 7 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. The work is expected to take four to six weeks to complete.
The contractor will work in sections, starting with the center of the structure and working out towards each end. They will start by breaking down the bridge deck in longitudinal sections, working from east to west. Once the bridge deck has been demolished and the debris has been cleared, the contractor will then break up the remainder of the structure into small pieces. A containment fence has been built below the viaduct to catch material.
For the latest updates on the project, click here for a project newsletter (Summer 2011). You'll find information on tree-cutting, the traffic shift, bridge demolition and more.
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Throughout construction of the viaduct, ODOT would like to meet periodically with interested community members at a series of informal get-togethers. Look here for information about future meetings with the construction team. If you or your group would like a project information briefing, please contact Elizabeth Craig, Community Affairs Coordinator at 503-731-8237 or elizabeth.craig@odot.state.or.us.
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| Project Information |
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Work on the Oregon Department of Transportation's project to replace the twin Interstate 5 viaducts that cross over a ravine that leads to SW Iowa Street (click here for a general project summary) started in August 2010. Wildish Standard Paving Co. of Eugene, Ore., is the prime contractor on the project.
The Interstate 5: Iowa St. Viaduct Replacement project is at milepost 298, just north of the Terwilliger Curves. The viaduct – technically two viaducts side-by-side – was completed in 1957, with three lanes in each direction and substandard three-foot shoulders. The new viaduct will include standard shoulder widths and maintain three lanes in each direction.
Project Benefits
** The existing deck of the I-5 Iowa viaduct is in poor condition and needs a seismic retrofit. ODOT’s bridge maintenance unit has done several patching projects on the deck. These patches are failing while new cracks continue to appear. The new viaduct will meet roadway and seismic standards.
**The replacement viaduct will maintain three lanes in each direction. Safety will be improved with 12-foot shoulders, wider center medians, higher concrete barrier and retaining walls along the east and west sides of the freeway. The new viaduct would be wide enough to accommodate a future truck-climbing lane for southbound I-5 traffic.
**The trail passing under the viaduct will be rebuilt to City of Portland trail standards. Maintenance of the trail is expected to be handed over to the City following project completion.
I-5 Traffic Impacts
In order to accommodate traffic mobility during construction, plans call for a temporary three-lane detour structure to be built to the west of the existing viaducts. During construction, motorists should expect lane closures on northbound and southbound I-5 during nighttime hours and on some weekend days. Also, the contractor may need to temporarily close lanes on Barbur Boulevard for access in and out of the western side of the project area.
Click here to see a weekly construction update on this project.
Click here for a newsletter (Summer 2011) with the latest project information on tree-cutting, bridge demolition, traffic shifts and more.
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Bikes on Barbur Blvd.: Up on Barbur Boulevard (the west limits of the project), there is more activity as construction of the I-5 detour bridge begins. Slavin Road (just north of the Vermont and Newberry bridges on Barbur) is seeing more truck traffic entering and exiting the work zone. Click below to see where this location is:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=barbur+boulevard&sll=45.480312,-122.679965&sspn=0.001324,0.002342&ie=UTF8&t=h&radius=0.07&split=1&rq=1&ev=p&hq=barbur+boulevard&hnear=&z=19
The problem with the previous traffic pattern is that trucks leaving the work site at Slavin couldn't see cyclists or other traffic coming north, unless they edged their vehicles out into the entrance to the flyover ramp that bypasses the Capitol Highway on-ramp to Barbur north.
So, in order to reduce the conflict between trucks leaving the work area and cyclists or pedestrians traveling north on Barbur, the ODOT contractor has built a new entrance to the flyover ramp less than 100 feet to the north of the current ramp. A stop stripe was painted for trucks leaving the work site. Bike detour signs direct traffic to the new ramp.
This bike detour will remain until the project is completed in 2013.
Click here to see a graphic showing the bike route change.
To see the traffic press release for this change, click here.
Walking Trail: The walking trail that crosses under the viaducts joining Iowa Street to George Himes Park will be closed during most of the construction period due to safety concerns. The trail will be restored following completion of the new viaduct. Click here to view a trail detour map.
Noise Impacts
Much of the project work is expected to take place during daytime hours (pile driving, for example, will only take place during the day). However, work that requires lane closures on I-5 will take place during nighttime and weekend hours. ODOT has received a noise variance from the City of Portland for nighttime and weekend work during construction.
Tree Removal
In preparation for viaduct construction work, contractors removed trees and other vegetation from the west side of I-5 in the project area from mid-February through March 2010. In a proactive approach, contractors planted over 500 trees and shrubs in October and November 2011. Planting trees and shrubs before construction is complete will lead to better soil stability and fuller, more mature trees and shrubs by the time the project is finished in 2013.
Tree removal on the east side of I-5 is expected to take place in August 2011 (see the newsletter in the Latest News section of this website for more information on the next round of tree removal).
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| Retaining Wall Facade |
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What Will the Retaining Walls Look Like Once the Project is Completed?
You’ve probably seen the retaining wall construction taking place to the west of I-5 in the Iowa Street Viaduct replacement area. These retaining walls will reinforce the existing slopes in the project area (there also will be smaller retaining walls built to the east of I-5 when work shifts to that side).
What you see out there is not the finished product. The contractor ultimately will install a concrete wall treatment (or façade). To minimize the sight of the westside wall, which is more than 40 feet high in parts, a slope planted with trees and shrubs will be installed in the final stages of the project. Trees and shrubs also will be planted alongside the eastside walls at the end of construction.
Viable retaining wall treatment types are vertical, block, and stone. We identified three examples of these types: Oregon Basalt (vertical), Sandstone Ashlar (block) and Monterey Drystack (stone). Some of the factors considered in choosing these three were:
• Blending in with the natural environment
• Conforming to engineering requirements for strength and size
• Maintenance (cracking, staining, upkeep
• Graffiti removal
From May 15, 2011, to June 15, 2011, ODOT solicited feedback from the community and other stakeholders on the wall types. We received more than 400 responses. The most popular choice for the wall treatment is Oregon Basalt. ODOT, therefore, will go ahead with installing Oregon Basalt wall treatment on all walls facing motorists or residents. Thanks to everyone who participated in the online survey or who sent comments or let us know what they thought at several public events we attended.
OREGON BASALT. Click here for a print-sized version (pdf format) of the Oregon Basalt wall treatment.
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| Project Schedule |
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Wildish Standard Paving Co. of Eugene, Ore., started work on this three-year bridge replacement project in summer 2010. Following is a projected schedule of work, subject to change due to contractor activity, unforseen delays and weather conditions:
Summer 2010 - Summer 2011
During this period the contractor is expected to excavate and construct the west side retaining walls, build the temporary detour bridge and detour roadway, and plant trees in project areas not impacted by construction.
Summer 2011 - Fall 2011
During this period the contractor is expected to shift I-5 southbound traffic to the west detour alignment, start constrution of new bridge supports, demolish the existing I-5 northbound bridge, and start construction of the east side retaining walls.
Fall 2011 - Spring 2012
During this period the contractor is expected to continue building the east side retaining walls and finish the new I-5 northbound bridge construction. Once the northbound bridge is finished, northbound I-5 traffic will be shifted to its permanent bridge alignment.
Spring 2012 - Fall 2013
During this period the contractor is expected to demolish the existing I-5 southbound bridge, construct the new I-5 southbound bridge, shift I-5 southbound traffic to the permanent bridge alignment, remove the detour bridge, install the embankment in front of the west side retaining walls, build the new pedestrian trail under the bridge, and complete final landscaping.
Click here to view the current project schedule in a graphic (pdf) format.
**To be added to a weekly construction update list, please contact Elizabeth Craig via e-mail or phone (see below for contact details).
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| ODOT Contact Information |
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Community Affairs Coordinator
Elizabeth Craig
(503)731-8237
Elizabeth.Craig@odot.state.or.us
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