ODOT NEWS RELEASE: Drilling operations begin near Scottsburg Bridge

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 08/15/2016 03:07 PM PDT

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August 15, 2016

R3-42-16

 

ODOT NEWS RELEASE

Drilling operations begin near Scottsburg Bridge

 

SCOTTSBURG -- In an effort to design a replacement for the aging Scottsburg Bridge, the Oregon Department of Transportation will drill several holes into the river bed on the downstream side of the bridge this week.

 

The drilling work will provide important geotechnical information for the design of a new bridge.

 

The plan will involve drilling four holes, each 100 feet deep and 8 inches wide, from a barge on the west side of the bridge. The 100-foot barge will be positioned so that it only occupies a small slice of the river, leaving about 400 feet for other boats to pass by.

 

Vehicle traffic on Oregon 38 (Umpqua Highway) will not be affected by the drilling work.

 

Located about 16 miles east of Reedsport, the Scottsburg Bridge was opened in 1929 in an era when most vehicles were smaller and speeds lower. Today, the bridge’s narrow lanes and tight corners at both ends are less than ideal for modern traffic.

 

Although no funding has been secured for a new bridge, ODOT is designing a replacement structure that will better accommodate modern traffic. If construction funding for a new bridge cannot be secured, ODOT will shelve the plans for the new bridge and focus on a variety of bridge repairs instead.

 

More project information is available at www.ScottsburgBridge.com.

 

##ODOT##

 

For more information:

 

Dan Latham

ODOT Public Affairs

541-957-3601 (desk)

541-817-5200 (cell)

Dan.Latham@odot.state.or.us