PROJECT: Oregon 38: Elk Creek to Hardscrabble Creek
LOCATION: Elkton, Ore.
COST: $19 million
LENGTH: 546 ft
DESIGNERS: Slayden Construction Group Inc., T.Y. Lin
CONTRACTOR: Slayden Construction Group Inc.
OWNER: Oregon DOT
Scenic views did not enhance the look of six months’ worth of 20-minute delays and 40-mile-long detours. So the Oregon DOT decided to engage in rapid replacement for this bridge. Gigantic hydraulic jacks moved the new 1,500-ton eastside bridge 15 ft down steel tracks to its final destination. After the westside bridge was installed, crews aligned it to the substructure and ensured it met ODOT’s strict earthquake and seismic activity standards.
