WRAP TO STRENGTHEN
Evans Creek Bridge
Unnoticed by many Interstate 5 motorists passing over the Evans Creek Bridge, located north of Rogue River exit 48, is a strengthening project that provides the equivalent of an exoskeleton to the half-century old structure. Evans Creek Bridge is undergoing a $1.2 million repair to extend its lifespan. One of 35 bridges from Medford to Grants Pass on I-5, the 51-year old bridge was scheduled for repairs to avoid load-carrying restrictions. According to ODOT Bridge Maintenance Manager Bryan Mast, the project is a necessity. “Evans
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September 28, 2012
Creek Bridge has taken a real pounding over the past fifty years,” said Mast. The repairs involve injecting the cracks with epoxy before wrapping a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite around the concrete girders. ODOT has used this repair method on numerous bridges over the past 15 years. “The FRP wrap adds strength to the beams to help them resist traffic loads,” said Mast. “This repair is designed to provide the bridge with at least another 25 years of use. This approach is the most economical solution for the problem.”
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