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| Siuslaw River Bridge closures begin tonight | ||
| 09/21/2009 | ||
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ODOT Region 2 | Sept. 21, 2009 | 09-257-R2 For more information: Rick Little, information officer, (541) 726-2442 Steve Templin, assistant project manager, (541) 744-8080
Overnight closures of US101-Siuslaw River Bridge begin tonight
Intermittent closures will mean two hour delays, 11 p.m.-5 a.m.
Florence-- The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) plans intermittent traffic closures of the US 101-Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence for four nights beginning tonight, September 21 and ending the morning of Friday, September 25. The closures will be in effect from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and will create delays to travel in both directions on US 101 for two hours at a time. The closures will also affect river traffic. The bridge closures are necessary to allow a contractor to sandblast, paint, and repair rivets on the ends of the bridge’s lift spans. In order to gain access to the span ends, the contractor must raise the bridge, stopping traffic during the work periods. There will be three work periods per night with traffic being allowed to cross the bridge approximately every two hours. Emergency service will not be affected The bridge will be quickly opened to traffic at any time, should an emergency occur. ODOT has collaborated with many public agencies to ensure that access to emergency services will not be interrupted for the residents in and around Florence during the bridge closures. Ambulance service and law enforcement will be available on both sides of the bridge to respond to any emergencies. “We apologize for the inconvenience to motorists,” said Assistant Project Manager, Steve Templin, “but we want residents to be assured that they will have full access to emergency services if they need it.” ODOT has also worked closely with area employers and the trucking industry to make sure appropriate travel and work schedules are not greatly affected. Variable message signs will be located both north and south of the bridge to inform and remind motorists of the closures. Know before you go Motorists or boaters who would like to plan for bridge crossings during the four-night period, please take note of the following schedule:
Modernizing the bridge built in 1936 The painting and repairs are part of a $5.3-million dollar project to modernize the historic bridge. A new, state-of-the-art computer and video lift system will be replace the ageing manual/electrical system; the operator buildings will be restored; and columns and lift spans of the bridge will be repaired and painted. The project is on schedule for a fall, 2010 completion. More information on the project and the closures is also available on line on ODOT’s website on the Siuslaw River Bridge project page at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION2/US101_SiuslawRiverBridge.shtml Travel information is also available at www.TripCheck.com or by calling 5-1-1. ## ODOT ## |
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