County, ODOT speed up bridge work
By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 11th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Estimates were that it could take as long as six years to remove and replace the Thorn Hollow Bridge in Mission. The bridge was closed after it was seriously damaged in the February flood of the Umatilla River. That process has been dramatically shortened.
Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran said Oregon Department of Transportation Regional Manager Ken Patterson and Umatilla County Public Works Director Tom Fellows sat down at the table to explore ways of speeding up the process and, basically, didn’t get up until they succeeded.
“These two folks were innovative, creative, and found ways not to say no,” he said at a news conference Wednesday.
Dorran said the process for removing the bridge, instead of taking several years, can begin immediately. Fellows said that doesn’t mean they can just jump in and remove the damaged span, though.
“There are a lot of things that could still happen,” he cautioned about the need to get permits in order. “We have environmental, historical, archaeological, cultural, and fish issues.”
Fellows believes the permitting process could be completed in time for the summer of 2022 in-water work window. Meanwhile the design process for a new bridge will get underway as well. Originally it was anticipated the bridge wouldn’t be replaced until 2027. Fellows said that if all goes smoothly, the new bridge could be built in the summer of 2023.
Those in-water work windows are for six weeks, so there would not be enough time to both remove one bridge and build another one in one summer. The project is expected to cost about $5 million.
Photo of the Thorn Hollow Bridge the day after the flood provided by CTUIR.
