Wickiup Jct. overpass work resumes, delayed by accident

(Update: Adding ODOT comment)

High Desert Aggregate & Paving, under contract with the Oregon Department of Transportation, will resume work this week on the Wickiup Junction railroad overpass in La Pine, delayed by an accident that sent two beams crashing to the ground late last summer.

ODOT officials said current work will take place on the bridge, with deck forming and concrete deck placement.

Beginning in early May, work will begin on the new alignment of U.S. Highway 97, including laying base rock and placing base course for paving.

The construction is scheduled to be complete later this fall.

ODOT said there will be no impacts to the traveling public until sometime in July or August, when traffic is shifted onto the new alignment.

Last August, two large concrete beams fell during work on the railroad overpass, one blocking the train tracks below for five hours.

The 173-foot concrete and steel beams were being put in place by two cranes above the BNSF tracks. One had been placed and a second was being lowered into place when the accident occurred. There were no injuries.

ODOT spokeswoman Abbey Driscoll said the investigation of fault in the girder collapse is still ongoing. However, she said they are still on schedule to complete the project in the original timeframe by this fall.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/pages/us97_wickiup_jct/us97_wickiup_jct.aspx