October 2014
NEWS
The Southwest Portland Post • 3
Massive concrete pours scheduled for Oct. 1 & 13 on Sellwood Bridge project
By Erik Vidstrand and Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
Work continues this month on
construction of the new Sellwood
Bridge. At press time a massive
concrete pour for the Bent 4 (west
side) river pier was scheduled to
begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct.
1. The pour will last about 36 hours.
Hundreds of concrete trucks will de-
liver loads from Macadam Avenue
(Highway 43).
The pour will form the upper sec-
tion of the pier and the angel wings
that support the steel arches. Neigh-
bors may notice work lights during
the pour and for several days after,
as crews monitor the water cooling
system.
The east pier pour is scheduled
to start at 6 a.m. on Oct. 13 and will
also last about 36 hours. Internal
water cooling systems will cool the
structures while the concrete cures.
Old Bridge: A subcontractor re-
moved the massive concrete blocks
of the last river pier in September.
The blocks weighed up to 300,000
pounds each. According to Mike
Pullen, spokesman for Multnomah
County, that is roughly equivalent
to the weight of 1,250 LaMarcus
Aldridges or 82 Ford Mustangs.
The old river piers had very little
steel rebar, compared to the new
bridge. The additional rebar will
give the new bridge greater strength
and stability to resist loads, includ-
ing seismic forces. Divers will soon
begin saw-cutting the underwater
New Wilson HS Turf
(Continued from Page 1)
and adults. In improving fields for
all students, the board said, it is
providing access to safe facilities for
physical fitness.
Principal Chatard headed a com-
mittee of Wilson, Jackson Middle
School and Robert Gray Elementary
School parents who began raising
money for the field in 2013.
According to school district fig-
ures, the Randalls provided $250,000
for Wilson. Other donors and
amounts included Nike $150,000; the
district’s Great Fields Fund $77,017;
Foothills Soccer Club $50,000; and
others, including parents, $133,529.
portion of the pier.
West Side: Retaining walls are
being constructed and will close the
outside southbound lane of South-
west Macadam Avenue weekdays
until 4 p.m. This is between Taylors
Ferry Road and the bridge.
Installation of tie-backs and con-
crete anchor heads continues north
of the bridge. The tie-backs are be-
ing stress tested this month before
the final concrete fascia is added.
A northbound lane is closed week-
days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. north and
south of the bridge during excava-
tion. Installation for ground anchors
of the retaining walls has also been
happening.
Night drilling has ended and fenc-
ing was installed on walls north and
south of the bridge. Installation of
soil nails and tie back anchors con-
tinues near the lowest level of the
north wall.
New Bridge: The new bridge and
interchange is shaping up. Work
continues on walls and ramps for
the new two-level interchange with
Macadam Avenue.
Concrete diaphragms were
poured to provide stability between
pre-cast concrete girders. Some
shorter diagonal girders in the in-
terchange are being cast in place, so
forms and rebar are being installed
for those. Vegetation clearing on
the slope above the ramp will be
completed soon.
At the west end of the new
bridge, conduit will be installed
next week for streetlights. More
concrete diaphragms were poured
Jessica Tindell, whose son, Riley,
16, is on the varsity football team,
said of the field, “It’s pretty impres-
sive. . . It’s really exciting to see what
can happen in a community when
they put their efforts into it.”
Tindell, a member of the Touch-
down Club, which supports Wil-
son’s football program, said the
group has a new website, www.
trojantdc.com. It carries informa-
tion, game schedules and has a place
to log in to hear a game when fans
can’t be in attendance.
Editor’s Note: In case you’re wonder-
ing, Wilson’s varsity football team beat
Franklin 54-7 in their home opener,
Sept. 19.
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A crane removes a 300,000 lb. chunk of concrete from Pier 2.
(Photo courtesy of Mike Pullen, Multnomah County)
in September on Span 2 to provide
stability between pre-cast concrete
girders. Shorter diagonal girders
between the bridge and the south-
east ramp will be cast in place in
October.
River Trail: The contractor re-
routed a sewer line and installed a
manhole along Miles Place as part
of the reconstruction of the road that
will be part of the regional trail. Pav-
ing is scheduled for early October.
Non-residents should avoid this very
confined work zone if possible.
Piles were installed in the river re-
cently to support the erection of steel
arches in 2015.
For questions about the new Sellwood
Bridge project, contact Mike Pullen via
email mike.j.pullen@multco.us or call 503-
209-4111. Visit www.sellwoodbridge.
org for more information.