A $107-million six-mile, single-track extension of the Portland Streetcar Loop was built entirely within city streets, presenting traffic management issues. To maintain required traffic flows, SWI reduced the main four-lane streets to two lanes for three blocks at a time. This had the added benefit of reducing impacts to nearby businesses. Another challenge was construction across the historic bascule-style Broadway Bridge. Due to the age and complex motion of the bridge, a "net zero" weight adjustment of the lift section was mandated. The project team worked closely with county bridge engineers to devise weight-reducing measures, including replacing the bridge deck with fiber-reinforced plastic and replacing old steel members with lighter high-grade steel.
Key Players
General Contractor: Stacy and Witbeck Inc., Portland
Owner: Portland Streetcar, Portland
Design Firm: URS, Portland
Structural Engineer: David Evans and Associates, Salem, Ore.
Electrical Engineer: Elcon and Associates, Portland; LTK Engineering Services, Portland
Systems: Elcon Corporation, Everett, Wash.
Sewer Utilities: Nutter Construction, Vancouver, Wash.
Submitted by Stacy and Witbeck Inc.
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