People on paddle and float craft approach the Albany railroad bridge on the Willamette River on July 4, 2023. The log jam posed no obstacle to them.
The massive log jam on the Albany railroad bridge across the Willamette River may look impressive but does not appear to be hampering navigation.
The pile of dead trees and other debris has been growing over the last few winters and springs on the bridge’s southernmost pier. It can be seen from the Dave Clark Riverfront Path, and I’ve written about it a few times.
Neither the Portland & Western Railroad nor the Oregon State Marine Board seems particularly concerned with the size of that pile.
It is far enough out of the middle of the river to pose no great danger to boaters unless they hug the river’s southern bank, especially at night.
On Tuesday I watched for a couple of minutes as a flotilla of floating craft headed for the bridge. None came close to be snagged by all that dead wood.
In 2012 the railroard paid to have a smiliar pile cleared from the round pier in the center of bridge, now 102 years old. At the time there was concern about potential scouring at the foot of the concrete pier.
Evidently scouring because of the log jam is not a concern now. (hh)
From the bank, the pile looked like this on July 5, 2023.
An accumulation that exacerbates local scour which could damage the pier foundations and eventually result in bridge failure?
And government’s Alfred E. Neuman response – What, me worry?
I don’t whether to laugh or cry.
That isn’t very large. We use to have much larger ones in the Calapooia.
If there is no risk to the piling, leave it! It’s good habitat in the river when much of the natural woody debris has been removed.
Do not worrry. Dead trees in a river is a natural thing.