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Road dips no cause for depression When the McAndrews Road overpass (in Medford) was first put in, it seemed to me to be a smooth grade up and over. However, now there seems to be regularly spaced "dips." It almost seems as if the overpass structure consists of sections and that the center of each section is sagging. Has anyone else noticed the change? -- Shirley W., Applegate Valley Though they are not supposed to be there, the "dips" in the McAndrews Road overpass "have nothing to do with the structural integrity of the bridge," said John Vial of the Oregon Department of Transportation. "The structure is fine," he said. The overpass, which carries traffic over the railroad tracks and the Oak Street and Central Avenue intersections, was the result of a bond issue approved by Medford voters in 1983. The structure was completed by Hamilton Construction Co. of Springfield under a contract with the city in 1986. ODOT took over its maintenance several years ago. Vial said that prestressed beams for the overpass were put in place before the deck was laid on top. The beams allow for a certain degree of camber (slight arching) so that they can bear the weight of the deck. "What happened is that when they built this structure, an error was made and the beams have too much camber," he said. "So when they poured the deck, it did not flatten out, and you have these dips in it. It's been that way since it was built. But it is not getting worse." (Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) Today's News Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA