Bridge rehabilitation wraps up on Old Siskiyou Highway
Top: Built in 1914, the Dollarhide bridge’s skewed design allows for both the crossing of the railroad and the curvature of the highway. Left: When first constructed, old Pacific Highway was unpaved in this section as it crossed both the highway and the Southern Pacific tracks. Up until the late 1920s, this was the main railroad route on the West Coast.
The Dollarhide and Steinman Overcrossings, two historic bridges located on Old Siskiyou Highway (Oregon 272), reopened to traffic after a summer of much-needed rehabilitation. Prime contractor West Coast Contractors (of Coos Bay, Oregon) completed most of the work last month. The project included rehabilitating bridge rails, cleaning and repairing cracked walls and spalled (flaking) girders, removing and replacing the road surface and rehabilitating the historic rock walls. “The bridges look almost brand new,” said ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers. “The rehabilitation project came out beautifully.” The delicate nature of the project required a full closure on each bridge, an
inconvenience for local residents who use the highway to access their homes. “We really appreciated the patience and support of the neighbors around these bridges,” said Steers. “The detours worked well and the project moved along smoothly.” Due to the comparatively low traffic volumes on Old Siskiyou Highway, the project didn’t warrant the need for a larger repair or replacement project. According to ODOT Bridge Engineer Bob Grubbs, the rehabilitation project won’t change load limits on the Dollarhide and Steinman Overcrossings. “The repairs are only designed to maintain their current capacity,” said Grubbs.
odotmovingahead.com
September 2, 2011
25