Canal Bridge Replacement - WO #044

Replacement of the ailing 71-year old bridge is complete and has reopened to traffic. Despite being about 3 weeks behind schedule as late as November, the City’s Contractor, Natt McDougall Company, mobilized additional men and equipment and was able to eliminate the earlier schedule delay and finish 8-days ahead of the originally planned December 31, reopening date.  Read on for a current status report.

Affected Streets

South Shore Blvd. at the Oswego Lake main canal.

Funded by

State, City Street Fund

Current Status 

Local lighting artisan, George King Associates, Inc. is busy putting the finishing touches on four, custom lighting fixtures originally conceived of by Salem Architect Nathan Good.  Nathan Good was the architect of record for the City's new South Shore Bridge that crosses the Oswego Canal just east of the Canal Circle.  The architectural renderings of the lighting fixtures can be seen in the renderings below.  Each fixture is being fabricated from sheet steel for durability and then powder coated to guard against rust and corrosion from the elements.  The glass lenses in the fixtures are unique to these fixtures and were conceived of and created in a collaborative effort between Mr. Good and a local fused glass artist, Candace Pratt of Portland, Oregon.  When completed later this month, each fixture, weighing over 200 pounds, will be mounted atop stone faced entry way monuments located at the four corners of the bridge.  Inside each fixture will be a 26-watt compact fluorescent lamp with just enough intensity to create a pleasing glow and add architectural interest to the new bridge.

The exquisite detailing of the bridge rails is evident in the photograph below.  Each individual square of concrete or “dentils” as they’re called measures 2-inches square.  Over 700 dentils grace the bridge structure.

In the upper left corner of the picture a “T” shaped mounting bracket will accept custom lantern fixtures being designed and fabricated by a local lighting artisan George King Associates, Inc.  Architectural renderings of the fixture can be seen below.

For further information about the bridge opening you can call City Engineer Joel B. Komarek, P.E., at 503.697.6588 or click here to send him an e-mail.