Irving Avenue Bridge repair preparations will begin Dec. 5th

Work crews will begin geologic explorations on Monday, December 5th as part of a project to replace the aging Irving Avenue & 19th Street Bridge in Astoria. A drilling crew and rig will be working on Irving Avenue collecting test borings for approximately five days. Motorists should expect a one-lane closure during daytime hours where the work is taking place. Traffic control will be set up on site to direct traffic.

This work is part of the preliminary investigation necessary to help develop design and construction plans for a new bridge. The current Irving Avenue bridge was built in 1946 from steel, which typically has a 50-year lifespan. The new bridge will be built to handle safe vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle passage. Conceptual estimates put the cost of the new bridge at approximately $5 million. The Federal Highway Bridge Program, administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation, will fund 90% of the cost to replace the bridge.

Actual construction on a new bridge won’t begin until fall of 2013 at the earliest. In the meantime technical consultants led by David Evans and Associates under the direction of the City of Astoria will be undertaking a variety of technical analyses and design tasks. The current plan is to monitor for earth movement over the winter (wet) season.

Public meetings will be held to keep people informed and ask for input on the new bridge design. The first public meeting is planned for spring/summer 2012.