Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Laws banning smoking, aggressive panhandling in downtown Ashland seem to be paying off ... Group pushes to expand Southern Oregon monument lands ... Jacksonville development upslope from former landfill will offer houses among vineyards ... Laws banning smoking, aggressive panhandling in downtown Ashland seem to be paying off ... Group pushes to expand Southern Oregon monument lands ... Jacksonville development upslope from former landfill will offer houses among vineyards ... PUBLIC WORKS Historic bridge near the Ashland Plaza will be reinforced, ODOT says Comment By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 27, 2016 at 11:01 PM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 27, 2016 at 11:01 PM » Social News The Ashland Main Street Bridge is in good shape, but after some tests Tuesday, the Oregon Department of Transportation said it’s going to get some steel reinforcement rods to stretch out its life. The bridge, a 105-year-old, two-lane, arched span over Ashland Creek on Highway 99 near the Ashland Plaza, was built of concrete and rests on gravel and bedrock. A crew tested it by driving a 10-yard, rock-filled dump truck over it and, using a “crack gauge,” measured how much it moved. It wasn’t much, a thousandth of an inch or so, said bridge preservation engineer Rebecca Burrow. “The signs here say ‘limited to 53 tons,’ and we’re trying to improve that. We’re concerned about the shorter-wheelbase loaders,” she said. These concentrate more weight in a smaller space on bridges. It’s difficult to know how to approach strengthening, she said, because the builders didn’t leave any drawings of the original construction, so engineers are trying to ascertain what was used to build it. They did learn that a mill once sat on the south side, partly hanging over Ashland Creek, with commercial buildings on the other side that are long gone. The crew drilled four holes in the south lane and found it’s made of concrete at least 2 feet thick. Engineers now will figure out how to insert stainless steel bars, Burrow said. “There’s no steel in this bridge. If there were, we’d see the effects of it (rust) by now,” she said. They also investigated the bridge’s footings to see whether there’s been any effect from creek erosion over the decades. The crew found some old pipes in the bridge, possibly connected with the mill, and they are still leaking water. The bridge is supported independently of adjacent sidewalks, which are maintained by the city. “This is strictly a repair,” said ODOT spokesman Gary Leaming. “It needs some help. This bridge has been a workhorse for more than a century. We want to have as little impact as possible on the community and route. The last thing we want to do is rip out this historic bridge and put in a new one. “It’s one of the earliest, non-reinforced masonry arched bridges in the state.” Engineers will now analyze their data and options. When work begins, it will be in-lane, meaning traffic will flow in the other lane. To read more about the bridge project, see www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/Pages/AshlandMainStreetBridge.aspx John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 27, 2016 at 11:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501