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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 Rogue Valley Sewer Services must pay Phoenix franchise fee ... Ashland man accused of setting mother's Talent house ablaze ... Phoenix: Recreational marijuana grows must stay indoors ... Rogue Valley Sewer Services must pay Phoenix franchise fee ... Ashland man accused of setting mother's Talent house ablaze ... Phoenix: Recreational marijuana grows must stay indoors ... TRANSPORTATION ODOT plans work on Highway 101 Siuslaw River bridge Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News EUGENE — The Oregon Department of Transportation is getting ready to start renovation of a Highway 101 bridge over the Siuslaw River in Florence. The four-year, $37 million project is supposed to prevent corrosion and extend the bridge's life by at least two decades, but the construction will cause intermittent traffic delays. ODOT is opening bidding this month for contractors hoping to do the work. The goal is to start construction around April and wrap up by spring 2019, ODOT spokesman Rick Little told the Eugene Register-Guard. Using a process called cathodic protection, workers will spray a zinc coating on the bridge's deck. River water will then corrode the zinc over time, instead of the steel that keeps the bridge standing. "The whole goal of cathodic protection is to protect the integrity of steel reinforcement bars," which are embedded in the bridge's concrete, Little said. The bridge's side rails also will be replaced to bring them up to current crash standards. Changes to the pedestrian walkways along the sides will make them more handicap-accessible. State and federal transportation funds will pay for the project. Florence officials are bracing for some traffic implications, both from the bridge work and planned repairs along Highway 126, which runs east from Florence to Eugene. But the result of both projects will be better connectivity for travelers and businesses that rely on the highways, said Cal Applebee, executive director of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're going to see a lot of orange trucks around town the next few years," Applebee said. "But it's going to be a much-needed improvement. Our highways are in pretty shabby shape right now." The Siuslaw River Bridge opened in 1936, part of a state project that built five large bridges along the coast. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM » 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 2015 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