An eight-inch hole in the deck of the flyover ramp connecting eastbound SW Capitol Highway to northbound SW Barbur Boulevard will close the ramp for repairs until August 27, 2018. The hole in the bridge was discovered on Thursday. The bridge was immediately closed to all traffic at the intersection of SW Capitol Highway at SW Terwilliger Boulevard.
The 554-foot-long and almost 60-year-old bridge will require repairs that will take approximately five weeks, as crews remove and replace the failing concrete in the bridge deck.
The steel-and-concrete girder bridge is owned by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Based on National Bridge Inspection Standards, the Oregon Department of Transportation inspects this and all other public, traffic carrying bridges in Oregon every two years. The bridge is due for its next inspection this September.
People driving eastbound on SW Capitol Highway and SW Beaverton Hillsdale should follow detour signage directing them to SW Bertha Boulevard to access SW Barbur Boulevard northbound.
The outside (right) lane of southbound SW Barbur Boulevard is closed from before the offramp to westbound SW Capitol Highway. However, right turns to westbound SW Capitol Highway are still allowed at this time.
The traveling public is advised to expect delays while repairs are being made. We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all lane closures and directions by reader boards and flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.
This work is weather-dependent and the schedule may change.
Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation