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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend November 12, 2005 Depot Bridge opening delayed By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Corrosion in the cable anchors of the new $14 million Depot Street Bridge will delay its opening until spring, officials said. Jackson County Engineer Mike Kuntz said in a press release that while the corrosion is not a structural integrity concern, "it could affect future maintenance operations." Kuntz said crews will uncouple the cables individually, remove the corroded material and apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the hanger assembly before reattaching them. "Total delay for the remedial work is anticipated to be about a month," Kuntz stated. "That puts the traffic shift off until mid-January at the earliest." Kuntz was unavailable for further comment this week. The bridge originally was scheduled to open by Thanksgiving. Advertisement The recently discovered corrosion is the project’s second cable-related problem since construction of the 550-ton, 300-foot-long, tied-arch bridge began in May 2003. Last July, aligning the bridge’s cables created headaches for David Evans and Associates engineering crews. The bridge’s suspension cables had to be precisely located with no twisting while crews worked directly alongside the smaller, 50-year-old steel bridge. After the cable anchors are treated, traffic will be routed off the old bridge and onto the new one. The traffic shift will allow disassembly of the old bridge. Falsework and the temporary work bridge that were needed during the construction also will be removed, Kuntz said. The demolition process is expected to take up to three months, Kuntz said. Motorists may experience delays of up to 20 minutes during the switchover and while crews work to complete a temporary roadway. In late April or early May, the new bridge will be closed for about five days while it is hydraulically jacked into place in its permanent location 25 feet downstream. Mammoet, a Holland-based engineering firm, will direct the bridge’s slow slide into place. Kuntz said The History Channel has recently expressed interest in filming the move. Bridge graphics and further information are available at www.deainc.com/depot_street on the Web. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Depot Bridge opening delayed ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s