January 31, 2022 3:30 a.m.

The construction phase of the Oakland Bridge Project is beginning.

Working in partnership with Douglas County, the Oregon Department of Transportation will manage the project and work with contractor Farline Bridge Incorporated of Stayton, to build a completely new bridge and alignment, just north of the existing 1925 bridge.

The new Oakland bridge will feature two lanes of traffic, wider shoulders and will allow for pedestrian traffic. The project is part of a two-bridge replacement bundle that also includes the replacement of the Conn-Ford Bridge, west of Roseburg on Old Melrose Road. Construction on that is expected to begin later in the spring.

The Oakland Bridge is also known as the Calapooya Creek Bridge and is on the Oakland-Shady Highway, best known as Old Highway 99 North. It is at the northwest corner of Oakland, where it takes traffic over Calapooya Creek and the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad.

The bridge is a link to Interstate 5 for area residents and tourists. It was determined several years ago that the Oakland Bridge, constructed nearly 100 years ago, had exceeded its useful lifespan. The existing bridge has a very narrow deck, which is currently limited to a single lane with traffic controlled by a signal at each end. This results in delays and frequent bottlenecking. The bridge also requires frequent repairs, so without replacement, it would continue to deteriorate beyond the point to where routine maintenance would be enough to keep it open for traffic.

The Oakland Bridge will remain open to traffic until the new bridge is complete. Most construction will take place outside of travel lanes, though some intermittent lane and shoulder closures may be necessary. For the first three weeks of February, the contractor will be moving equipment to the work zone and clearing trees and brush near both ends of the bridge. Utility companies will also be working in the area.

Through a cooperative effort by the county and federal partners, Douglas County was awarded a contract of just under $16.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Competitive Highway Bridge Program in 2019. The remaining funding will come from Douglas County and state sources.

For more information, go to www.oaklandoregonbridge.com.