Traffic was light on Saturday, July 20, on the Ellsworth Street Bridge. Nighttime construction continues on the bridge during the week.
On weekends and during the daytime on weekdays, it’s hard to see how much work remains to be done in the project to raise the height clearance of Albany’s Ellsworth Street Bridge.
I asked ODOT for an update on the status of the Ellsworth project. Mindy McCartt, the department’s spokeswoman for this region, came back with this:
“While a lot of work has been completed, work still remains on the bridge. This includes installing new truss members at various points of the bridge, removing rust under the bridge, and installing new lights. The project is scheduled to be completed this fall. The contractor removes their equipment daily to allow for all lanes to be opened to the public.”
Wildish Standard Paving Co., Eugene, has a $4.5 million contract from ODOT raise the height clearance of the bridge from 14 feet, 10.5 inches to 17 feet, 2.5 inches.
On most weeknights since April 1, the bridge has been closed overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. so the work can be done. Southbound traffic has been detoured over the Lyon Street Bridge.
Flaggers have kept traffic moving at Lyon and First, and as far as I can tell from going through the intersection at night, the arrangement has worked well. (hh)
The important question, of course, is “who benefits?”
Apologists for this project have insisted we all benefit, because a higher road clearance allows oversized and carelessly-driven trucks to pass (these are the vehicles which have every few months crashed into the superstructure of the bridge), bringing us the goods we all need.
I suggest that the owners of oversized and carelessly-driven trucks are the only ones who benefit, since on the other several hundred days of the year the bridge has allowed these goods to pass without spending millions of dollars on raising the clearance.
It won’t be the last time some negligent driver hit the bridge or the lights. They should have installed a heavy duty “slicing” device at the first truss in both directions. Just slice off the top of the truck. Rust removal and new lights (if they work) are a nice necessity.
There is no such thing as a “heavy duty ‘slicing’ mechanism” that would work in the way that you’re imagining. And any such device would likely cause more collateral damage to other vehicles and the bridge than would be acceptable.
We all benefit because the risk of damage that would require closure for repair are lessened. We all benefit because taller trucks can take a shorter route between downtown and North Albany.
I’m looking forward to seeing it clean again. It’s the gateway into Albany.
I have been a long time reader, and always read the comments. The first comment in this section was so ridiculous and ignorant that I have to respond. “Who benefits”….. Every commuter, visitor, and patron of Linn county, Benton county, Albany, Adair etc. We/they benefit by having a bridge span that will be in proper repair. Made structurally sound after being maimed by commercial drivers and privateers that should have their CDL’s and Contractors Board licenses revoked. Why is this important??? Because the wrott-iron relic is more fragile than it may look to your untrained eye. Because it is asked to bear static load during rush hour traffic that far exceeds its intended cyclic weight bearing capacity. Because it was not built with redundant suspension if the primary load structure becomes compromised or overwhelmed. That means we all go swimming if it is not put back to good repair. Ever notice how it lists to the left on arrival from the Benton county side? Observe your surroundings. 4.5 million is a small price to pay for a contractor who is familiar with and willing to take on 100 plus year old bridge building repair techniques. And do as fine a job as is/has been done so far, and no doubt will continue to be. The idiots who have collided with and damaged our beautiful land mark should have their bonds pulled and names made public. As we all know human nature will always fail us because we cut corners, are in a hurry or just don’t care. Otherwise there would be no EPA, FDA, or OSHA assigned to our brownfields, superfund sights, and workplace safety standards comptrolling. You, sadly, cannot take the nature out of the human. And, for now, it is against the law to ceremoniously dispatch those who would carelessly endanger so many lives with their negligent driving habits and total disregard for DOT load measurements. Perhaps you should think of these things before you take to open forum pouring criticism and implying slander for our battered and bruised bridge way and overpass repair/restoration funding. Maybe next time you are sitting on that bridge waiting for traffic, over it’s highest point, remember that 15 years ago that old iron giant was given a D+ rating for structural and a Failed for roadbed integrity under static load circumstance evaluation. Who benefits??? Every person who crosses it daily. And every person who will do so for the next 100 years. 4.5 million…. Just like Ford class super carriers, the expense seems excessive, but you can see clearly where the money is going. That cannot be said for any other tax dollars of the country, state, or municipality. Just big armor and highway projects. 4.5 mill seems like a bargain not take and unscheduled swim in the Willamette, inside my vehicle, with 500 other folks, by surprise on some random Tuesday.
Owned
Just where are the 16 foot tall trucks going to go after crossing the bridge? It feels rather uncomfortable sitting next to a large semi while waiting in downtown traffic.
What was once a natural blockade to prevent these oversized vehicles on our roads is being removed. The infrastructure is not in place to handle them.
I don’t see any benefits to Albany for the 4.5 Million dollars spent.
Seems like there isn’t work being done more often than not. Many nights go by where nothing is happening, why don’t they work more consistently? Seems it would get done a lot faster if they did.
The slow progress doesn’t surprise me. Travel on any hwy and this is when odot must move Quickly. May GOD keep everyone safe.