A contractor for the Oregon Department of Transportation closed state Highway 38 between Drain and Elkton Monday so workers could install a culvert.
The closure was planned to allow workers to prepare the bridge for replacement work, which is scheduled from 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, to 6 a.m. Monday, May 12.
The bridge replacement is part of a project to replace five aging bridges on Highway 38 between Elkton and Drain. The bridges were built between 1929 and 1932.
This project marks the first time ODOT has used a technique called “rapid replacement” to build a new state highway bridge. Rapid replacement involves using hydraulic machinery to slide the new bridge into place after the old structure is demolished. Crews have worked at the site since June 2007 to build the foundation for the new bridge in preparation for the rapid replacement.
ODOT is using rapid replacement for this site because of the physical constraints posed by the geography and the narrow access to the historic Elk Creek tunnel. Due to these challenges, the alternative bridge replacement method would force closing one lane of Highway 38 at the Elk Creek tunnel 24 hours a day for about one year. ODOT will instead use rapid replacement to reduce the highway closure time and impacts of the construction on motorists.
For more about the project, those interested can go to the Web site at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/ElkCreek.shtml.
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