February 2013
- Weather-dependent painting work is temporarily suspended for the winter.
- Phase 3 construction began June 30, 2010 and paints the steel beams above the roadway.
- Crews completed Phase 2 of the project in December 2010. This phase cleaned and painted the piers in the Columbia River and bridge towers on the Washington side.
Overview
This project will clean and paint the steel framework of the SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge. The fresh coat of paint will help prevent future corrosion to the steel, preserve the bridge’s structural integrity, and prolong the life of the bridge.
The Lewis and Clark Bridge is being painted in three phases:
Phase 1 cleaned and painted the Oregon approach of the bridge structure, and was completed in February 2008.
Phase 2 cleaned and painted the piers in the Columbia River, and the bridge towers on the Washington side. This phase began April 7, 2009, and was completed in December 2010.
Phase 3 paints the superstructure of the bridge above the roadway. This phase began June 30, 2010, and is expected to be complete by fall, 2013.
Why is WSDOT
painting the Lewis and Clark Bridge?
Originally built in 1929, the 82-year-old, one-mile long Lewis and Clark Bridge is a historic landmark and vital transportation connection for Washington and Oregon. The bridge carries an average of 21,000 vehicles per day, 13 percent of which are trucks.
The Lewis and Clark Bridge was last painted in 1984. Since then, the protective coating on the bridge has deteriorated, exposing the steel to the weather and elements, which has resulted in rust and corrosion. Painting this historic bridge will preserve and restore the bridge’s structural integrity and protect the steel from future corrosion.
Our Partners
As stipulated in Washington and Oregon's Border Bridges Agreement, construction and maintenance costs for the Lewis and Clark Bridge are shared equally by the two states. WSDOT is the lead agency for this project and manages its delivery with funding and design coordination from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
The End Result
The steel framework of the bridge will be cleaned and repainted with a protective coating. The project will restore and revitalize this historic landmark and transportation connection, and prolong the life of the bridge.
Project Benefits
- Preservation: This project helps prevent future corrosion, and preserves the bridge’s structural integrity.
- Economic: This project preserves a vital bi-state transportation connection, allowing it to continue handling commuter and heavy freight traffic for years to come.
What is the project timeline?
Phase 2:
February 23, 2009: Phase 2 construction contract awarded to Certified Coatings Company, Inc. of Concord, Calif. with a winning bid of $5.1 million.
April 7, 2009: Phase 2 construction began.
December 2, 2010: Phase 2 construction completed.
Phase 3:
April 30, 2010: Phase 3 construction contract awarded to Odyssey/Geronimo JV of Houston, Penn. with a winning bid of $33.7 million.
June 30, 2010: Phase 3 construction began.
Fall 2013: Phase 3 construction anticipated to be complete.
Why didn't WSDOT paint the bridge while the deck was being replaced in 2002-2004?
During the deck replacement project, the contractor applied the first primer coat of paint to all the steel beams located under the deck. However, it was impossible to paint the entire bridge at the same time deck panels were being replaced because of the short, 8-hour work window available to the contractor each night.
Financial Information
Project signage will reflect the cost of construction engineering, project bid award and sales tax.
Phase 2:
• Pre-existing funds: $6.7 million
• Total estimated cost of Phase 2: $6.7 million
Phase 3:
• Pre-existing funds: $27.7 million
• 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): $12.3 million
• Total estimated cost of Phase 3: $40 million
The total cost of this project is split evenly between WSDOT and ODOT as are all bridge projects on the Columbia River between the two states.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Area Engineer Denys Tak
WSDOT Kelso Area Engineering Office
2400 Talley Way
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: 360-442-1341, or toll free 1-800-545-1393
E-mail: swKelso@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Heidi Sause
WSDOT Communications
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2057
E-mail: Sauseh@wsdot.wa.gov
Or you can use the online feedback form.
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