The Oregon Department of Transportation completed repairs to two bridges on Oregon 47 near Vernonia by replacing deteriorated timber supports, saving significantly on costs compared to hiring contractors for the work.
The repairs to the Beaver Creek bridges involved replacing large horizontal timber caps at mileposts 65 and 69 that help carry the weight of the structures. The work required crews to carefully lift each bridge, remove the deteriorated timber and install a new cap, ODOT said.
The two repairs, completed September 22, had a budget of $100,000 and came in under budget. A contractor-led project for the same work could have cost close to $1 million, according to the agency.
ODOT's District 1, which covers Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties, maintains more than 50 timber structures with an average age of 78 years. The agency uses timber instead of steel for repairs in the area because steel is vulnerable to rust in coastal conditions.
The crews began work in late July and completed the repairs while maintaining traffic across both bridges, with flaggers directing vehicles through the work zones. The Seaside Bridge Crew completed the work with support from the Sign Crew, Warrenton Maintenance, and ODOT's Technical Services staff.