Eugene (KMTR) - Work is coming along on the northbound section of the new Willamette River Bridge over Interstate 5. Construction crews say the project still has a long way to go, but it is on schedule.The new southbound bridge that drivers are currently using opened in late August, marking the halfway point in the state's largest-ever bridge replacement project.
Crews are now putting in the foundations for the northbound bridge. The remainder of this year will be spent building the bridge's superstructure, including the arches.
Scott Williams of Hamilton Construction says, “Once that's done, then we're going to use part of the detour bridge that was here and we're going to build a pedestrian bridge that takes the bike path like a viaduct alongside the river. Eventually they'll connect it to a bike path that will go into Springfield.”
But that won't happen until the northbound bridge is finished. It is expected to be completed and open to traffic in the summer of 2013.
