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Replacement of the U.S. 26 West Humbug Creek Bridge east of Seaside would normally require at least six months, but a pair of contractors will get it done in fewer than two.

Stayton-based HP Civil and Aumsville-based Oregon State Bridge Construction are in the final two weeks of the $2.4 million project, putting in 24-hour weekday shifts to reduce costs and traffic disruptions. OBEC Consulting Engineers is performing engineering and design work for the project.

The team about three weeks ago began using around-the-clock shifts, from Sundays at 7 p.m. through Fridays at 11 a.m., on the heavily trafficked stretch of roadway. The contractors are employing Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques, including use of a higher performing, fully precast deck panel system that will essentially lock into place, HP Civil President Larry Gescher said.

鈥�(Oregon Department of Transportation officials are) looking for a deck system that they can get a deeper life from,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to pour enough concrete to lock the bridge together.鈥�

Prior to the around-the-clock shifts, crews performed excavation work around the old timber bridge and drilled deep piles that would support the new one. Then they demolished a piece of the old bridge, leaving enough room for one lane of traffic while building a portion of the new bridge to accommodate another lane of traffic.

This week, crews are demolishing the rest of the old bridge and building the remainder of the new one, Gescher said. The final week will consist of asphalt work and final pavement, he said.

ODOT is seeking more rapid-fire bridge projects because they minimize impacts and reduce costs, agency spokesman Lou Torres said.

Contractors typically would build a detour bridge, allowing motorists to bypass new construction, Torres said. But cost and time savings were critical because the project is primarily being funded through Oregon’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

鈥淲e’re doing more (of) these around the state because a bridge project can take six months to a year,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can do this in a month to minimize traffic disruptions and save a lot of money.鈥�