Seen last week while out and about with Sarah

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays. Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays. Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

After we visited Tanner Springs Park last week, Sarah headed for my apartment by crossing the Willamette River on the Broadway Bridge. I haven't paid any attention to the bridge on the rides I've been on with Lamont--the bridge is alongside Interstate Avenue which is the street where Kaiser is located; we've been there quite a bit lately for doctor appointments and blood draws. I will be going on Interstate Avenue to Kaiser a lot between now and probably February, 2016, as I undergo chemotherapy and then radiation therapy.

Seeing these workmen on top of the bridge puts its size in proportion, doesn't it? I mean, we're used to seeing vehicles crossing it, but I've never seen people on it. What a job! When I checked it out at its next-to-largest size, it was easy to see their safety harnesses. Gosh, I remember when my husband used to wear a safety harness, now and then, on his job--he was a construction laborer. Am I ever glad that I didn't witness any of that. Whew.



Here's a 10-second video I shot as we drove out from underneath the cover that protects vehicles while the bridge is being painted.

I read this online: Field work began on June 26, 2015 for a project that will complete the repainting of Multnomah County’s historic Broadway Bridge. The project will repaint the truss structures above the traffic lanes and handrails on three spans: two at the west end and one at the east end. The center spans and the substructure of the entire bridge were repainted in 2004 – 2005.

The bridge was closed to motor vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26 until Sunday night, June 28 while the contractor installed traffic control for construction. Two of the four lanes on the bridge will be closed during the work.

F.D. Thomas of Central Point, Oregon, is the general contractor for the $6.9 million project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The contractor will remove failed paint from the three spans and apply a new three-coat paint system (featuring the same Broadway Red as the rest of the bridge). After scaffolding is installed, painting will take place within containment structures designed to prevent the release of contaminants. Some steel repairs may also be required where corrosion has occurred. Most work will take place during the day on weekdays.

Traffic Impacts

The contractor plans to keep the two center lanes open to traffic throughout the project, with one lane in each direction. With the two outside lanes closed during most of the project, bridge users will experience some delays, especially at peak commute hours. Other bridge users may want to consider alternate routes to avoid delays.

Highlights of the traffic plan include:

The project will shut down Portland Streetcar service across the bridge and to the eastside from June 26 to August 15, 2015 while the contractor paints the area above the center lanes. This will require deactivation of the streetcar’s electrical system. After mid-August, one sidewalk may need to close at times during repainting of the sidewalk handrails. The contractor will keep the other sidewalk open to two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recommend that large trucks, trailers, campers and buses avoid the bridge during peak travel times to reduce congestion.

River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work. River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work. River traffic will not be impacted.

Noise

The contractor may work on some nights, usually to set up a new work area. The project has taken several steps to mitigate construction noise and maintain neighborhood livability during construction:

All equipment will comply with US Environmental Protection Agency noise standards, including mufflers. Reduce truck movements at night. Use silent “smart alarms” instead of standard reverse signal beep alarms on vehicles at night. Use portable noise meters onsite to measure noise levels. The containment structures will help contain construction noise. Maintain a 24-hour Construction Information Hotline (503-988-4884) with information on the work schedule. Maintain a 24-hour telephone response line for noise complaints (503-329-5490). The contractor will assist the County to address complaints within 24 hours or before the next scheduled night work.