 The second of the six girders for the new south bridge at the Fillmore/I-25 interchange is lifted into place during overnight work this summer that required closing both Fillmore and the intersate. The hoisting gear at the near end belongs to the crane in foreground right, while the farther crane and its apparatus can be seen at the girder's far end. The two synchronized in setting the 90-ton concrete/steel unit. It was one of six girders hauled to the site, each by its own semi-tractor trailer. Two nights were required to install all six. The trailer that carries this girder is at far left (marked "oversize load"). The bridge is now open. Westside Pioneer photo
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During that time, motorists will have a driving experience in which the south bridge, which was built over the summer, temporarily handles two lanes of eastbound traffic while the remainder of the old span will carry two lanes westbound.
The sawing and related demolition work is to occur overnight Sept. 8-9 and possibly the 10th. The interstate will close during that time, according to Ted Tjerandsen of project consultant Wilson & Company.
Surprisingly, the sawing will not disable the remaining bridge structure. This is because the segment being sawed off - on its north side - was added in the 1970s when the original bridge (built around 1960) needed widening
The work will involve a motor-driven saw with a four-foot blade and a crew walking behind to operate it. “It will cut right alongside a support beam,” Tjerandsen explained.
The reason the north half of the old bridge is being sawed off is to make room for the north bridge, which needs to be built in that space, Tjerandsen said.
The remainder of the old bridge is due for demolition once the north bridge is in.
The final major step will be the diverging diamond layout, in which traffic over the interchange will be directed to the left (via stoplights at either end of the bridges). At that time, in keeping with that design, the south bridge will carry westbound traffic instead of eastbound.
The $15.1 million project has a hoped-for completion time frame of June 2016.
Westside Pioneer article