By the end of the month -- beginning of October at the latest -- the new eastbound Interstate 84 bridge over the Sandy River will be open for traffic, better-looking, wider, with bike and pedestrian paths.
Two years into the I-84 Sandy River Bridge project is the halfway point for Oregon Department of Transportation, which started the $92.7 million project in 2010. Ultimately, the agency will replace the I-84 bridges running both directions over the Sandy River in Troutdale, and will repair two bridges over Jordan Road, east of the river.
The investment came as the bridges showed wear and tear despite years of repairs, ODOT officials said in 2010. The pricey replacement of the two bridges should improve safety and traffic flow, officials said.
View full sizeCourtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation
An aerial view of the bridge during Sandy Bridge construction.
Despite price tag fluctuations for environmental concerns and construction obstacles along the way, the first half of construction has wrapped on schedule. Construction widened the eastbound bridge over Jordan Road in Troutdale along with work on the Sandy River Bridge, and will open at the same time, said Jyll Smith, public information officer with ODOT.
Once eastbound traffic fully opens, work will shift to the westbound bridge; traffic will run two ways on the new eastbound bridge. Smith said construction workers will use the old eastbound detour bridge as a platform to work off of before deconstructing it. Westbound construction is scheduled to start next year, including westbound widening over Jordan Road.
A pedestrian tunnel will be finished once it reaches through the westbound side, and should be open late in 2013, Smith said. The full eastbound and westbound improvements will be finished in 2014.
The new bridge features rock facade treatments on the bridge piers, abutments and decorative pylons, per I-84 Corridor Strategy design requirements.
留言列表
