US 101: Yaquina Bay Bridge

Location: Newport

Cost: $26 million

Completion: August 2023

Owner/Developer: Oregon Department of Transportation

Architect: Not applicable

Engineer: Wildish Standard Paving

General Contractor: Wildish Standard Paving

Submitting Company: Wildish Standard Paving

Subcontractors: Reese Electric, Turn Key Scaffold, Vector Construction, West Side Iron

The Yaquina Bay Bridge project in Newport involved a cathodic protection system replacement spanning 1,900 lineal feet and covering 310,000 square feet of surface area. It included 3,700 square feet of concrete repair.

At the heart of the project was the meticulous design of the scaffold system, a complex web of support that rose up to 17 stories high, reaching 130 feet over the waters of the bay. The scaffold system was not just about providing access, it was a lifeline for the restoration process. It facilitated extensive sandblasting, a crucial step in preparing the bridge’s surface for the application of the new cathodic zinc coating.

The bridge project posed multiple challenges. The containment system, an integral part of the scaffold, had to act as a barrier against contaminants, ensuring that none of the material blasted off the bridge made its way into the bay. Up to 1,000 feet of vacuum line transported sand and debris off the scaffold daily. It was imperative the material was removed as the project progressed due to its immense weight, which could not be supported by the bridge and scaffolding.

Another challenge was protecting the hundreds of nests that adorned the bridge, home to seagulls and cormorants. Wildish Standard Paving, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service worked carefully to ensure that the construction process did not disturb these nests. The team delayed work when necessary to allow chicks to grow and fly away safely.

The Wildish team navigated challenges related to the maneuvering of concrete through the scaffolding system, requiring precise logistics within the scaffolding structure. The concrete was needed to repair damaged areas on the bridge surface. Overall, 3,700 square feet of the bridge surface was chipped down to solid concrete, new concrete placed and finished, then zinc coated with the rest of the bridge.

The project was a collaborative effort. Multiple subcontractors, including Vector Construction, Reese Electric, West Side Iron and Turn Key Scaffold, worked in unison to bring it to fruition.

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