MIDWEEK UPDATE Polson bridge work in full swing
Hydrodemolition crews worked to rip the existing surface off the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge in Polson on Friday. Crews have been working for nearly a week on the projected six-week resurfacing project.
POLSON — The noise comes bouncing off the bridge 24 hours a day, through rain and wind, and a little, snow the crews working to resurface the Armed Forces Memorial bridge on U.S. Highway 93 aren't stopping until the job is finished.
"We don't have a choice," project supervisor Booy Desjarlais said on Friday afternoon as the sun appeared, but the wind kept blowing.
Despite the nasty weather, things are progressing nicely, Desjarlais said. The quick job, that is slowing traffic across the major outlet for at least six weeks, is set contracted to end on May 31.
This week the crews began the first major step in the resurfacing by removing the old bridge surface.
A hydrodemolition sub-contracted crew from Pennsylvania is currently working to remove the surface of the northbound lane. The process high-velocity water jets to remove or demolish concrete. At least two large trucks, two crew members and several pumps work to remove the surface.
In the coming weeks, crews will cleam up the lane, check for bad concrete, replace it and lay good concrete down. Next, and last, they'll resurface the bridge.
Connie King, hired as a carpenter out of Ronan, is helping to remove the railing of the bridge. A temporary wooden railing will be put in place while the existing metal structure is taken to Missoula to be reworked.
The hydrodemolition should finsh on Monday night, Desjarlais said. The team came into the job aiming to finish on Memorial Day weekend, while things are on schedule now, Desjarlais said the project will most likely take the full six weeks.
Western Traffic Control is in charge of traffic movement across the bridge during construction. A controller inside a mobile home set up on the north side of the bridge monitors and "directs" traffic around the clock.
Mounted live-stream video cameras show the controller where cars are, and when the last car across the bridge passes onto the highway, the controller pushes a button to switch the light.
Desjarlais said crews haven't seen any problems with traffic yet.
The bridge is practically deserted at night, he said.
Westway crews will finish the northbound lane, take down the barrier for peak summer traffic and be back again to start the southbound lane on Sept. 8, Desjarlais said.