The 4-day/5-night (104-hour) full highway closure and traffic detour will allow the City’s contractor to install a new Hwy 213 bridge using a rapid bridge construction technique. This construction method:

• shortens the duration of project construction by approximately 6 months, and
• enables the contractor to keep every Hwy 213 travel lane open in the daytime during all but 4-days of the construction process.

In contrast, if the Jughandle Project were to use a traditional staged bridge construction method, it would require 12-16 months of continuous—24-hours a day/7-days a week—closures of at least two travel lanes on Hwy 213!

Rapid Bridge Construction
The City’s contractor has begun building the new Hwy 213 bridge next to the highway on a temporary support system, where its construction has little to no interference with traffic. By late March, the bridge will be ready to move into its permanent position, and the contractor will work around the clock to complete its construction.

The four‐day/five‐night process begins by removing an approximately 130‐foot long section of roadway on Hwy 213. This includes excavating approximately 900 cubic yards of asphalt and between 6,000 and 8,000 cubic yards of material beneath it.

Next, a system of rollers, roller guides, and winches will be used to slide the bridge superstructure into position over the new permanent foundations. The contractor will then use hydraulic jacks to uniformly lift and lower the bridge into place. The connection between the bridge and its supports will be secured and the roadway paved, allowing vehicles to cross the new bridge within 48 hours of its installation.

To see an example of rapid bridge construction in action, click here to view a video of a replacement bridge being moved into place on Oregon Highway 38. During the rapid bridge construction on Hwy 213, you can get a bird’s eye view of the action by watching the construction camera.

More information
Travel on Hwy 213
Information for Bicyclists