Cracks in Sellwood Bridge fixed with…glue

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Sep 3, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Injection ports, affixed to the concrete directly over the cracks, allow the contractor to force high-strength epoxy into the Sellwood Bridge’s cracks under high pressure.

David F. Ashton / THE BEE

It isn’t a joke: The Sellwood Bridge, dedicated in 1925 and considered to be in the poorest condition of all major Oregon bridges — is now held together with glue.

Earlier this year, Multnomah County bridge crews examined every inch of the bridge. They documented cracks in its concrete superstructure, particularly on the ramp approaches to the bridge on both sides of the river.

During the last two weeks in August, contractors completed a $100,000 project that involved cleaning 450 lineal feet of cracks and filling them with an epoxy cement.

“This process prevents water from corroding the steel rebar in the concrete, and slows the growth of cracks,” explained county spokesman Michael Pullen.

The many drivers who ignored the “Bridge Closed” signs, drove up to the foot of the bridge, and then had to make a U-turn, couldn’t see the workers as they injected the epoxy into cracks during the evening hours.

A crewmember of the Leewens Corporation, the Seattle-based company contracted to do the injection work, showed THE BEE the “mixing head” with which the two-part epoxy is mixed, ready to be pumped into the cracks.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit