Portland port ships bridge span

Portland port ships bridge span One of the Port of Portland's bulk terminals served Friday as the launch point for a massive bridge section that was floated almost seven miles to its destination on the Columbia River.
   Construction crews lifted the 1,600-ton pre-constructed center span for the Sauvie Island bridge onto a barge at Terminal 2, which sits on the Willamette River tributary. The journey took about two hours, according to local news reports.

Barge floating the 1,600-ton pre-constructed center span for the Sauvie Island bridge.

   Multnomah County officials slated the 57-year-old bridge for replacement because it had deteriorated and required weight limitations that impacted the ability of farmers to transport their products. The $38-million project is not expected to be completed until the fall of 2008   
   The bridge was pre-fabricated by Fought Steel in Tigard, Ore., and then disassembled for delivery by truck to Terminal 2 where construction crews reassembled the bridge. The Port of Portland said that ongoing terminal activity for steel and other commodities was unaffected by the project.
   Engineers had to time the journey with optimal weather and river current conditions.