ODOT to replace, seismic retrofit 8 Hwy. 97 bridges

The Oregon Department of Transportation said Thursday has awarded a $15 million contract to Stellar J. Construction Co. of Woodland, Wash., to replace two bridges and seismically retrofit six others on U.S. Highway 97 in north-central Oregon.

The project will replace the existing Spanish Hollow Creek Bridge, located a half-mile south of Biggs Junction at the Columbia River Gorge, and the Trout Creek Bridge, 17 miles north of Madras, to new, seismically resilient bridges.

Other work will be done to seismically retrofit six other bridges over Spanish Hollow Creek near Biggs Junction.

Crews also will extend the southbound acceleration lane of Highway 97 from the U.S. highways 30/97 intersection at the Biggs Junction interchange to match into the Highway 97 climbing lane a half-mile to the south, officials said.​

The project is “essential to assist with traffic mobility in the case of a major seismic event,” the agency said in a news release.

Crews have begun preliminary work to prepare for the bridge replacements. Motorists can expect to see temporary signals at both Spanish Hollow & Trout Creek bridges which will reduce traffic down to one lane. Oregon State Police will be enforcing the work zone for the duration of the project. The project is scheduled to be complete by fall 2019.