Repairs scheduled for 229th bridge

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Repairs on the bridge may start as early as this afternoon (Dec. 15) to take advantage of a short window of better weather. Rather than completing the repairs in one three-day period, weather impacts may require that the work be done in two or three one- or two-day closures.

Advance warning signs will be displayed during the road closures. Current closure updates will be posted on the Washington County Roads website: www.wc-roads.com

Original release: Dec. 4, 2015

Southwest 229th Avenue will be closed during the day to all traffic at the bridge over Butternut Creek, north of Rosa Road, between Dec. 21-23 or Dec. 28-30, depending on weather conditions.

The road will be closed to all motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Through traffic must use an alternate route during this time. Outside of this time, the road will be open to through traffic.

County crews will replace deteriorating bridge pile caps during the closure. The County's engineers are confident that the bridge is safe and in no danger of failure. However, as a safety precaution, the weight limit on the bridge is reduced to 25 tons (down from 40 tons). The Sheriff's Office will increase enforcement to make sure heavier vehicles are not crossing the bridge.

The need to replace the caps was identified in a recent ODOT annual inspection. The County is closely monitoring the condition of the bridge until the repairs are complete.

The repairs will be done during the school holiday break to minimize the impact on school and school bus traffic. Every effort will be made to complete the work as quickly and safety as possible.

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and operating the County roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

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