On October 20th, Tillamook County Public Works announced that recent bridge inspections showed six bridges with serious deficiencies requiring immediate load limits. Several bridges are on well-travelled, main roadways and as a community that relies on heavy load trucks for it’s major industries of logging and farming, Public Works has quickly found contractors and temporary solutions to work towards removing the load limits on three bridges. Watch for road construction and upcoming closures in the following areas.
Tillamook County Public Works received bids on 11/10/2021 to remove the load limitations on three bridges. The contractors’ schedule anticipates the following temporary full closures needed to perform the work:
Burton-Fraser Road over Fagan Creek (bridge closest to Hwy 131):
48 hour full closure tentatively scheduled for November 18-19th. Work will include removing the existing asphalt and guardrail. The decking and substructure will remain in place. The contractor will install 41-ft concrete beams (located in the Tillamook County Public Works’ yard) over the top of the existing structure and will be placed on top of contractor provided concrete foundations. Concrete barriers will be used as bridge rails. The road approaches will be improved to match the increase in bridge deck height. The work will remove the existing 3 Ton load limitation and is expected to last for 10+ years. Tillamook County Public Works will pave the project upon completion, when weather permits, and when oil becomes available. Paving work may be contracted.
Moss Creek Road over Moss Creek (last bridge on Moss Creek Road):
24 hour full closure tentatively scheduled for November 22-23rd. Work will include removing the existing guardrail and timber decking. The timber substructure will remain in place. The contractor will install 52-ft concrete beams (located in the Tillamook County Public Works’ yard) over the top of the existing structure and will be placed on top of contractor provided concrete foundations. Concrete barriers will be used as bridge rails. Minor road work will occur to match the increase in bridge deck height. The work will remove the existing 3 Ton load limitation and is expected to last for 10+ years. Tillamook County Public Works will pave the project upon completion, when weather permits, and when oil becomes available. Paving work may be contracted.
Minich Creek Bridge at Miami-Foley Road at MP 2.42:
48 hours full closure tentatively scheduled for December 14-15th. Work will include removing the existing asphalt, guardrail, and timber decking. The project schedule is impacted by the procurement of treated bridge timber. The timber decking will be replaced in-kind and the existing guardrail will be reused until the supply chain can provide new guardrail. The work will remove the current 10 Ton load limitation and is expected to last for 10+ years. Tillamook County Public Works will pave the project upon completion, when weather permits, and when oil becomes available. Paving work may be contracted.
All work listed above is designed by a bridge engineer utilizing bridge contractors. The work will be performed within the existing rights of way and outside of the active channels. The work is temporary in nature until funding becomes available for full bridge replacements.