DOT Says East End Approach May be Complete This Fall
DOT Says East End Approach May be Complete This Fall Jessica Giard/Sun
Over the next month, crews could start laying a new road deck on the east end approach of the Chamberlain/Oacoma I-90 Loop bridge.
Rick Brandner and Tammy Williams with the SD Department of Transportation reported on the status of the bridge rehabilitation project on Friday, Sept. 25 at a public information meeting in Oacoma.
“The goal this fall is to get the Chamberlain approach bridge completed,” said Brandner, project engineer.
As of Friday, he said the deck and one span of girders had been removed. The contractor is building a ramp to put the crane in place to remove the second span of girders.
Over the next month, contractors will also be lifting the end of easternmost truss span to replace the top two feet of the pier (referred to as pier 10). Pier 11 – the easternmost pier – will be replaced to the footing. A new abutment will be built, then new girders put in place.
Brandner said the plan is to start building the new deck on the east-end approach before winter.
Heavy Constructors, Inc. – the prime contractor – has been removing the roadway deck on the truss spans. Brandner expects they’ll have completed deck removal on both lanes of the eastern two truss spans in the next three weeks. That’s about one-quarter of the bridge’s total length.
On the western end of the truss spans, paint contractors have enclosed half of one span to sandblast the old paint and prime and repaint the structure. Brandner said the enclosure is connected to a vacuum system to collect the lead-based paint as it is removed.
Once paint is removed, the crew of six to 10 people must prime the structure within 24 hours to prevent oxidation, or rust.
Brandner said the painting contractor expects to work through mid- to late-October. The painting work is weather-dependent and can only be done in temperatures above 40 degrees and if the humidity is less than 80 percent.
Moving Farm Equipment on Interstate 90 With the closure of the I-90 Loop bridge, the only way to move farm equipment across the Missouri River is via Interstate 90. Since harvest is underway, Williams said DOT expects an increase of farm equipment using I-90.
Permits are required for equipment moving less than 40 mph and over 8 ½ feet wide, said SD Highway Patrol Sergeant John Koenig of the Chamberlain squad. For equipment over 16 feet, an escort with flashing lights is required.
To obtain a permit, contact the port of entry at (605) 757-6406 or the Chamberlain squad office at 734-4560. Permits can also be issued online at http://www.sdtruckinfo.com/permitting.asp.
Koenig said that the department is considering waiving the permit fee for local farmers. As of now, the fee has not been waived.
