Construction work is progressing, despite some delays due to high winds and waiting on material deliveries. The bridge is now welded to the bearings on each side. The receiving tower and the remaining launch truss have been removed and staged for demobilizing. The back, cheek, and wing walls have been set and are being welded at the east abutment.
Workers are now preparing to begin the final stages of thermosiphon installation and activation, along with backfill and grading at the east abutment. As is typical in late summer, the slide has seen some extreme movement recently, and the temporary access route across the slide that had been in place below the bridge is no longer passable.
Depending on the weather, construction season is expected to continue for another few weeks and will likely wrap up sometime in October. Check back for at least one more blog post at the end of the season.
Photo courtesy of FHWA
Inspecting welds using magnetic particle testing.
Photo courtesy of proHNS
Rail welding the backwall of the abutment.
Photo courtesy of proHNS