Traffic update for Sellwood Bridge
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Traffic Alerts
Blasting for the retaining wall on Highway 43 is tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 10, between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. If it occurs, it will necessitate closure of the outer southbound lane between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Blasting will occur between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. During blasting traffic may be stopped on Highway 43 and the detour bridge for up to 20 minutes. Highway users should expect delays during this work and consider alternate routes.
Culvert - The signal south of the Sellwood Bridge will be controlled by flaggers. This will affect both northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 43 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 9, just south of the bridge, for culvert work.
For safety, bridge users are urged not to cut through the narrow residential streets in the Sellwood area to dodge commute traffic.
West Side Work
Retaining Walls – Excavation of the hillside west of the highway continues. The contractor continues to test drill for rock south of the bridge. Night blasting is tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 10. After excavation, the contractor will start building retaining walls to hold back the slope.
Landslide - With the landslide stabilization work nearly complete, crews will focus on constructing the work bridge from the west bank and digging foundations for the approach columns for the new bridge.
East Side Work
Work Bridge – The east work bridge is taking shape, and deck sections now stretch out into the river. The east and west work bridges will be used as platforms to build the new bridge.
New Bridge – Preparation for drilling the deep shafts for new bridge foundations on the east side continues next week. The shafts will be installed from east to west, starting with the one near the Springwater Trail. Toward the latter part of the week there will be short, periodic (5 minutes) closures of the Springwater Trail to move equipment in and out of the area. Flaggers will detour trail users who chose not to wait.
Wall Pilings - Soldier piles will be installed for a temporary shoring wall just south of the bridge near the Sellwood Harbor Condos. Some noise will be generated as the piles are augered into the ground.
Caisson installation - If schedule permits, late next week the contractor will start vibrating 9’ caissons into the ground just south of the existing bridge near the Springwater Trail. The contractor will install vibration monitors to track the vibrations from this work.
Normal weekday work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For Project Information – Contact Mike Pullen (mike.j.pullen@multco.us, or visit www.sellwoodbridge.org. View live construction from the two web cams here.
