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| ODOT to reuse big beams in future bridges | ||
| 05/30/2008 | ||
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SPRINGFIELD — Reduce, reuse, recycle will take on grand proportions starting Monday when contractors for the Oregon Department of Transportation will begin moving 64 massive reinforced concrete beams from the former Interstate 5 McKenzie River detour bridge to a storage site in west Eugene. The parade of beams will occur daily from dawn to dusk through Friday, June 6. If necessary, any remaining beams will be moved on Monday, June 9. No beam movements will happen during peak morning and afternoon commute times. ODOT plans to reuse the salvaged beams in future bridge construction projects throughout Oregon. Reusing the beams on other bridge replacement projects will save taxpayers about $1 million. The 64 concrete box beams are 115 feet long and weigh 70 tons each. Crews will use a special truck and dolly to transport each beam. Pilot cars will guide the beams south on I-5 from the construction site at the McKenzie River, west on Beltline Highway, east on Roosevelt Boulevard, then south on North Bertelsen Road. The beams will be stored on ODOT property west of Bertelsen Road. ODOT has timed the beam moves to avoid traffic conflicts with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials that begin June 27, and a City of Eugene improvement project scheduled for Roosevelt Boulevard. ODOT constructed the temporary I-5 detour bridge over the McKenzie River in 2004. In the spring of 2007, Springfield-based Hamilton Construction, the prime contractor on the project, started work on permanent bridges. Earlier this month, the new I-5 southbound bridge, large enough to accommodate four lanes of traffic was opened. At this time, two lanes each of northbound and southbound I-5 are using the new bridge. Following the salvage of the bridge beams, Hamilton will begin preparing to demolish the remainder of the detour bridge as well as the I-5 northbound bridge over the McKenzie River. Demolition will begin in July. The $61 million project, which includes the new northbound and southbound I-5 bridges over the river and replacement of I-5 bridges above Highway 58 and Franklin Boulevard in Goshen, will be complete in fall 2009. # # ODOT # #
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