FOR RELEASE: Jan. 21, 2013
CONTACT: Molly Streuli for Omega Morgan
molly@leoketel.com ; 503-295-1918
www.omegamorgan.com;
Omega Morgan Slides 3,400-ton Sellwood Bridge on a Curve;
At 1,100 Feet, It Is Likely Longest Bridge Structure Ever Moved
PORTLAND, Ore.—Deemed the longest bridge span ever
relocated and one of the most complex “translations” ever
attempted, the Sellwood Bridge move was celebrated at its
successful conclusion Saturday evening, Jan. 19. The most
highly traveled two-lane bridge in Oregon, the Sellwood was
jacked up a few inches by Portland-based Omega Morgan
(www.omegamorgan.com) and slid at an angle to a new
position nearby. The span moved is 1,100 feet long and
weighs 3,400 tons or 6.8 million pounds.
Omega Morgan won the bid to move the bridge with its plan
to save Multnomah County, Ore. millions of dollars and by
reducing up to a year of construction time. The company’s
proposal was to save the original span by moving it to the
side, reopening it to traffic Jan. 24 and leaving room at the
original site for construction of a new $307.5 million bridge.
The project will be completed in 2016.
Omega Morgan employees check lastminute details before the move of the
1,100-feet-long Sellwood Bridge span
began moving 66 feet in a single piece.
The company’s plan was the only one that did not require destruction of the old bridge which would
have required 30,500 vehicles a day to re-route miles away to other bridges over the wide Willamette
River. Other benefits of the Omega Morgan proposal: include reducing environmental impact and
improving safety for bridge users and workers.
The Biggest Bridge Move in History?
Multnomah County encompasses the most populous area in Oregon, including the city of Portland. The
87-year-old Sellwood Bridge project is one of the largest the county has undertaken in decades,
according to officials managing the project. Research by the county’s managers say the move was
“historic” because the truss is a single continuous structure and it is one of the oldest bridge structures
ever relocated in this manner. In a presentation, Multnomah County wrote, “This is one of the longest,
oldest structures to be moved in this way.”
Page 2/Omega Morgan Moves Sellwood Bridge
“We are proud to be an important part of this significant project,” said John McCalla, Omega Morgan’s
CEO/President. “Our employees enjoy a challenge and this one presented several opportunities to test
our skills. We are pleased that the move came off smoothly and will save commuter time, construction
time and taxpayers’ dollars.”
How It Was Done
Omega Morgan assigned a team led by Vice President of Engineering Ralph Di Caprio, whose
experience in executing complicated moves includes the removal of Portland’s Sauvie Island Bridge
and installation of the new bridge, managing the Third Avenue Bridge project in New York City, moving
two 900-ton spans on the Hood Canal Bridge and the transport and launch of the Kalama River Bridge.
The move took place over 12 hours amidst regional media coverage and thousands of spectators along
the river bank. Some of the viewers called the sight “a once in a lifetime event.”
The Omega Morgan crew raised the truss span vertically by several inches and then pushed it north by
hydraulic jack-and-slide beams. It was then slowly moved twice as far on the west end (66 feet) than at
the east end (33 feet) to accommodate for the new, permanent bridge being wider at the west end,
flaring from two to four lanes to add traffic capacity. The truss span was then moved on a radius, along
a curving path, adding to the complexity of the execution.
During a news briefing, it was revealed that a common dishwashing soap was being used to lubricate
pads on the slides, bringing a moment of levity to the serious, informational event.
Omega Morgan (www.omegamorgan.com) provides innovative solutions for the complex lifting, moving,
rigging and transportation challenges faced by manufacturers, power generation companies, general
contractors and logistics providers. For more information call Omega Morgan in Portland at
503-647-7474 or 800-442-8141; Seattle at 253-852-7500; Phoenix at 602-789-4143 or visit
www.omegamorgan.com. Check out Omega Morgan on Facebook. Omega Morgan has ongoing job
openings for qualified prospects. Check out job openings at www.omegamorgan.com and click on the
Careers link.
Northwest-based Omega Morgan executed the longest and one of the most
complex bridge moves ever with the Sellwood Bridge in Portland, Ore.