StructuresRoadway/
CivilHeavy Civil/
Industrial FacilitiesEnvironmental/
PermittingSurvey/
GeomaticsConstruction Engineering/
Inspection
Burnside Bridge Bascule Span Rehabilitation
Portland, Oregon
OBEC provided engineering services for the rehabilitation of the main bascule span of the historic Burnside Bridge which serves as a vital link of east and west Portland over the Willamette River. The bridge has one of the largest concrete decks of any bascule drawbridge in the world and it was severely worn with rutting and cracking.
The bridge features a Strauss Trunnion Bascule draw-span and the roadway is atypically composed of concrete which added extremely difficult problems for the team of engineers to overcome. Replacing the counterweight trunnions required temporarily supporting the 3.8-million pound counterweight from the existing truss. Loss of this support would result in the loss of the bridge and serious disruptions to river traffic. OBEC developed detailed jacking plans, connection details, and procedures which resulted in this work being completed on time and without incident.
In addition to replacing the trunnions and concrete deck and sidewalks on the lift span, the scope of work included installation of seismic retrofits and upgraded stormwater treatment facilities on the bridge.
The project received second place on the Daily Journal of Commerce's Top Projects in the transportation category in 2008.
ADDITIONAL INFO
STATUS
Completed 2007
CLIENT
Oregon Department of Transportation
Multnomah County
SERVICES PROVIDED
Structure Design
Stormwater Design
Construction Assistance
Construction Inspection