Bridge closures end

Overnight closures of the Hood River Toll Bridge are expected to end by mid-November -- almost eight months ahead of schedule.

Dave Harlan, director of the Port of Hood River, said motorists were given that good news this week by Christie Constructors, Inc. The company hired for the $7.5 million bridge redecking project expects to lay the final piece of 201 steel deck panels tonight. However, it will be about two weeks before all overnight work on the deck, underlying stringers and guardrails is completed. Harlan said once the around the clock operating reschedule resumes, there could still be some daytime crossing delays for another week as final details are wrapped up. Currently, the work schedule requires overnight closures from 9:30 p.m.-5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and traffic delays from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday.

"The Port is really glad to tell the public that we've completed this project much sooner than expected. We went into this redecking project knowing it would be inconvenient for people who rely on the bridge, but understanding this work had to be done to keep the bridge viable for the next 20 years or more," said Sherry Bohn, Port board president.

Ironworkers will hold a special ceremony on the bridge late Wednesday to celebrate the results of their labors. They plan to follow one of the construction industry's oldest traditions, the "topping out" of a completed project. That custom involves placing a United States flag on the top of the completed structure to reflect the ironworkers' pride in their accomplishment.

"A lot of people contributed to making this happen a lot sooner than anybody anticipated or hoped," said Harlan. "We've had great cooperation and production from our contractor, and excellent work from our project manager, Ed Hoyle, working with the support of our engineering firm, HNTB. We're going to miss having all of them around."

The port originally planned for overnight closures to take place until June of 2005. The construction crew initially began installing a single deck panel each night in June. But, by the end of August, they were laying up to three panels during a shift and were able to finish well ahead of the official timeline. The new steel-grid bridge deck is 19 feet, nine-and-one-half inches wide, about two inches wider than the deck set in place 52 years ago. Other improvements have included the addition of "rumble strips" or markers on the deck's driving surface and reflective material on the new rippled metal three-beam guardrails. The new deck is quieter and is expected to lessen traffic delays since it requires less welding maintenance.

The deck panels were fabricated in Pittsburgh, Pa., and shipped to Vancouver, where they were welded into support stringers. Final work, including guardrail installation, was completed at the staging area near the Expo Center in Hood River.

The Port decided to renovate the 80-year-old structure to ensure a safe operation for at least 20 years, or until the states of Oregon and Washington can afford a new interstate crossing.