by John Latta jlatta@randallreilly.com
Slip
Slidin'
Away
Big, heavy, Oregon bridge
makes an innovative move
14 February 2013 Better Roads
Y
ou jack it up, you slide it. Simple.
But the Sellwood Bridge is not small. It is 1,100
feet long (a continuous structure) and 3,400 tons.
The two-lane Oregon bridge was jacked up (just a few
inches) and then slid or skidded (at an angle) into a new
position. It may just be the longest bridge span ever relocated this way. And because of the move there will be a
bridge for traffic to cross the wild Willamette River while
a new bridge is built alongside, instead of having to take a
long alternative route.
The move saves Multnomah County millions of dollars by
shaving up to a year of construction time and saving drivers
a long detour. The proposal was to save the original span
by moving it to the side, reopening it to traffic and leaving
room at the original site for construction of a new $307.5
million bridge that will be completed in 2016.
The moving work was done by Portland-based Omega
Morgan, which says its plan was the only one that did not
