New Sellwood, Ore., Bridge Includes Seismic Engineering, Used ‘Sustainable’ Techniques

AASHTO Journal, 4 March 2016

A now-completed bridge over the Willamette River in Oregon not only replaces a 91-year-old structure with a new one that has seismic protections, but is also the state’s first registered “Greenroads” project for the sustainable building techniques used in its construction.

Deputy Federal Highway Administrator David Kim joined U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett and other local and state officials Feb. 27 to dedicate the new Sellwood Bridge, days before its scheduled March 1 opening to traffic.

The Federal Highway Administration said the $319 million Sellwood Bridge project used $38 million in federal funds, including a $17.7 million TIGER grant, and replaces a 1925 bridge that could not keep up with the growing volume of traffic using it.

“The original Sellwood Bridge did an outstanding job for this community, and the new one is ready to continue that tradition,” said the FHWA’s Kim. “It perfectly illustrates the importance of transportation investments that help to ensure the safety of Portlanders for generations to come.”

The original bridge was built to replace the Spokane Street Ferry that took passengers across the river between Sellwood and West Portland.

Because it was the area’s first bridge over the Willamette without trolley tracks, the FHWA said, it was not designed for the weight of streetcars and “consequently was less substantial than the city’s other river crossings and more prone to damage from heavy traffic volume and seismic activity.”

The new Sellwood Bridge is nearly 2,000 feet long, and was designed to the latest seismic standards and construction engineering to ensure that it can remain standing through an earthquake equal to the largest felt there in the last 1,000 years, the agency said. It also offers shoulders and wider lanes for drivers, wider sidewalks for pedestrians, and access for bikes to nearby trails.

Its Greenroads certification recognizes the sustainability techniques used to build it. Workers recycled 91 percent of the project’s overall waste so less of that material went to local landfills.

And the FHWA said that cedar trees removed on either side of the river during the project were donated to local Native American tribes for use in traditional garments and ceremonial items.

“Investing in our nation’s infrastructure helps to strengthen our economy and ensure the safety of the traveling public on aging roads and bridges,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “By reducing congestion and improving access for pedestrians and bicyclists, this new bridge will help to invigorate Portland’s local economy and improve the quality of life for area residents.”

This entry was posted in Bridge Design/Const., Bridge Pres. Apps., General News, New Technology, News. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.