November 2009
- This week's traffic impacts
- Phase 2 of construction began April 7, 2009. Contractor crews are currently painting the piers in the water with little to no impacts to traffic. Crews are also painting the towers on the Washington approach.
- Phase 3 of this project, which is currently in design stage will paint the steel above the roadway on the bridge.
- You can find out where crews are working in Southwest Washington on our Construction Update Web page.
Overview
This project will clean and paint the steel members of the SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to help preserve and prolong the life of the bridge.
The Lewis and Clark Bridge will be painted in three phases; phases 1 and 2 will paint the steel underneath the roadway, and phase 3 will paint all of the steel above the roadway.
Phase 1 of the project, completed in February 2008, cleaned and painted the Oregon approach of the bridge structure.
Phase 2 of the project cleans and paints the piers in the Columbia River, as well as the bridge towers on the Washington side.
Phase 3, the final phase of the project, is set to begin in 2010, will paint the superstructure of the bridge above the roadway. This $47 million phase of construction will include $12.5 million in funding through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Why is WSDOT
painting the Lewis and Clark Bridge?
Originally built in 1929, the 80-year-old, one-mile long Lewis and Clark Bridge is a historic landmark and vital transportation connection for Washington and Oregon, carrying an average of 21,000 vehicles per day, 13 percent of which are trucks. Repainting the bridge preserves its structural integrity and protects it from weathering.
The Lewis and Clark Bridge was last painted in 1984. Since then, the protective coating on the bridge has deteriorated, exposing the steel to the weather and causing rust and corrosion. Painting this historic bridge will protect its steel and maintain the bridge's structural integrity.
Our Partners
As stipulated in Oregon and Washington’s Border Bridges Agreement, construction and maintenance costs for the Lewis and Clark Bridge are shared equally by the two states. WSDOT is the lead agency for this project and manages its delivery with funding and design coordination from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
The End Result
This project will clean and paint the steel members of the existing bridge substructure, preserving the structural integrity of this historic landmark and vital transportation connection.
Project Benefits
Repainting the bridge substructure will extend the life of the bridge, enhancing mobility and economic vitality in this area. Phase 3 of this project is expected to support approximately 230 indirect and direct jobs.
What is the project timeline?
- January 12, 2009: Phase 2 of this project was advertised for construction.
- February 23, 2009: Phase 2 of this project was awarded construction to Certified Coatings Company, Inc.
- April 7, 2009: Construction of Phase 2 began.
- Summer 2010: Construction of Phase 2 anticipated to be complete.
- 2010: Phase 3 of construction anticipated to begin.
Why didn't WSDOT paint the bridge while the deck was being replaced in 2002-2004?
During the deck replacement project, the contractor did apply the first primer coat of paint to all the steel beams located under the deck. It was impossible to paint the entire bridge at the same time deck panels were being replaced because of the short, 8-hour work window available to the contractor each night.
Financial Information
• Total estimated cost of Phase 2: $7.5 million (Pre-existing funds)
• Total estimated cost of Phase 3: $47 million
• 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): $12.5 million
The total cost of this project is split evenly between WSDOT and ODOT as are all bridge projects on the Columbia River between the two states.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Area Engineer Denys Tak
WSDOT Kelso Area Engineering Office
2400 Talley Way
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: 360-442-1341, or toll free 1-800-545-1393
E-mail: swKelso@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Communications
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: SWWebInfo@wsdot.wa.gov
Or you can use the online feedback form.
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