An Earthquake-Ready Abernethy Bridge Means Digging Deep

Mitchell Scanlan, a pile driver foreman with Kiewit Infrastructure West Company, says he’s proud to be part of the transformative I-205 Improvements Project.

This fall, pile driving crews have been inserting vertical supports deep underground to enable construction of a temporary work bridge. This is a critical process, and until the end of October, pile driving crews are working seven days a week to complete as much work as they can before their ability to work in the water ends due to fish migration. We know this work is noisy, but it’s essential to building the work bridge that will serve as a platform used by workers who are widening and seismically upgrading the Abernethy Bridge.

This important work is being done by skilled employees like pile driver foreman Mitchell Scanlan from Clackamas County. A member of the Kiewit Infrastructure West Company team, Mitchell’s work requires meticulous planning and vigilance to ensure the safety of his crew as they drive piles as deep as 185 feet underground. Mitchell said he’s excited knowing his work contributes to the state’s largest highway project in 45 years. When completed in 2025, the I-205 Improvement Project’s first phase will represent a historic investment in making I-205 the region’s lifeline route after a major seismic event, with greater resiliency and reduced congestion. 

Thank you, Mitchell, for your and your colleagues’ dedication and hard work on this effort. ODOT also appreciates the patience of residents and businesses during the pile driving phase. To learn more about the process for widening and seismically upgrading the Abernethy Bridge, visit the project website, and follow ODOT's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Oscar. We ask the public to stay safe and watch the I-205 construction from a safe distance.

As a reminder, this project's size and complexity will result in periodic road closures, detours, and other impacts, so please sign up for text messages and email alerts to stay informed or visit TripCheck »