ODOT Bridge Project Spurred by Growth in Troutdale

Tue September 24, 2019 - West Edition #20
Lori Tobias – CEG Correspondent

The Oregon Department of Transportation is working on an $18.8 million project to replace two bridges over I-84 in Troutdale. (Greg Westergaard and ODOT Photo)

Before constructing a new bridge, crews construct a temporary bridge and then tear out the old bridge so traffic disruption is minimized.
(Greg Westergaard and ODOT Photo)

The vertical clearance on the new bridges will be raised to 17.3 ft., nearly 4 ft. higher than the 13.5-ft. clearance of the old bridges to better accommodate truck traffic.
(Greg Westergaard and ODOT Photo)

Poor road surface combined with major new development in the area is triggering an $18.8 million project by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to replace two bridges over I-84 in Troutdale.

"We're seeing a lot of new economic development in the area around Troutdale north of 84," said ODOT spokesperson Don Hamilton. "The new Amazon facility is going in there. So we're trying to make sure this area is smoother and a less congested traffic area for both the employees and trucks that are going to be serving the new Amazon facility. This area is growing. It's adding a lot of new jobs."

ODOT is following a pattern it's used before, he said. They built a temporary westbound bridge and tore out the existing bridge and are now building the new westbound bridge. Once the new westbound bridge is completed and carrying traffic, they'll route the eastbound traffic on the temporary bridge, tear out the existing eastbound bridge and build a new eastbound bridge.

"Once the new bridges are in place, we'll take out the temporary bridge," Hamilton said. "This enables us to make sure we can keep the road open. We do everything we can to minimize the impact on the public. I don't want to say there is not going to be any impact because there inevitably is. Building two new I-84 bridges is not small and it's not cheap."

It's a full operation during the day with some work at night. ODOT is warning drivers that the night work involves bright lights and noisy activities such as cutting, drilling and moving construction equipment.

The vertical clearance on the new bridges will be raised to 17.3 ft., nearly 4 ft. higher than the 13.5 ft. clearance of the old bridges to better accommodate truck traffic. As part of the project, Graham Road beneath the bridges will be widened from two lanes to three. The existing road isn't wide enough to accommodate the northbound traffic generated by the development in the area. A sidewalk and bike path are also planned for the east side of Graham Road for pedestrians and cyclists. The road currently has narrow shoulders and no sidewalks.

Construction on the project began in February with completion scheduled for the westbound bridge this fall; and on the eastbound bridge in the summer of 2020. Graham Road improvements are set to be completed in the fall of 2020 with all work due to be finished in the winter of 2020. CEG

Lori Tobias

Lori Tobias is a journalist of more years than she cares to count, most recently as a staff writer for The Oregonian and previously as a columnist and features writer for the Rocky Mountain News. She is the author of the memoir, Storm Beat - A Journalist Reports from the Oregon Coast, and the novel Wander, winner of the Nancy Pearl Literary Award in 2017. She has freelanced for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Denver Post, Alaska Airlines in-flight, Natural Home, Spotlight Germany, Vegetarian Times and the Miami Herald. She is an avid reader, enjoys kayaking, traveling and exploring the Oregon Coast where she lives with her husband Chan and rescue pups, Gus and Lily.

Today's top stories

Construction Market Boosts Economy

Bobcat Company Donates $885,000 in Equipment to Support Salvation Army's Disaster Relief Efforts

VIDEO: KEMROC Expands; Plans to Increase Nationwide Presence

'Machinery Pete' Interviews Jack Lyon On RFD TV

VIDEO: Two Major Roadway Project Contracts Awarded by State Officials in West Virginia

VIDEO: First of Two Sections of NYC's $1.45B East Side Coastal Resiliency Project Is Complete

John Deere Construction Introduces Flexible Customer Training Options

INFRA Grant Moves Ohio's N. Coast Connector Project Steps Closer

Read more about...

Bridges Infrastructure Oregon Oregon Department of Transportation

Our Main Office

Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200

About Us

Construction Equipment Guide covers the nation with its four regional newspapers, offering construction and industry news and information along with new and used construction equipment for sale from dealers in your area. Now we extend those services and information to the internet. Making it as easy as possible to find the news and equipment that you need and want.

Contents Copyrighted 2024, by Construction Equipment Guide, which is a Registered Trademark, registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Registration number 0957323. All rights reserved, nothing may be reprinted or reproduced (including framing) in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. All editorial material, photographs, drawings, letters, and other material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to Construction Equipment Guide’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Contributor articles do not necessarily reflect the policy or opinions of this publication.

Read our privacy policy here.
Mastodon

\\ \\ \\