Oscar the Oscillator is in Oregon to Secure the Abernethy Bridge

Oscar the Oscillator onshore at the project site.

Currently, there are no earthquake-ready highway bridges across the Willamette River in the Portland metro area. Families and communities risk being separated by failed roads and bridges if the Cascadia earthquake hits. One of the main goals of the I-205 Improvements Project is to address that risk by upgrading the Abernethy Bridge to serve as a “lifeline route” after a major earthquake or another disaster.  

Seismically upgrading and widening the Abernethy Bridge requires drilling into bedrock to secure new bridge supports. These supports must be anchored in bedrock because it’s solid, even during a major earthquake. But drilling into the bedrock is no small feat; it lies beneath the Willamette River and 200 feet of sediment. That’s where a special piece of equipment lovingly nicknamed “Oscar the Oscillator” comes in. 

Oscar was built in Germany, shipped across the Atlantic, traveled through the Panama Canal, and continued up the West Coast to the Port of Tacoma. From there, he was loaded onto trucks and assembled at the worksite. If you’ve been by the Abernethy Bridge lately, you’ve likely seen him at work. Standing two stories tall, weighing 200,000 pounds, and sporting a bright blue finish, he’s the largest operating oscillator in North America. 

Starting this month, Oscar will move into the water to begin drilling into the bedrock below the Willamette River. Oscar won’t be in Oregon forever, so don’t wait if you want to see him in action. He belongs to the project’s drilling subcontractor, and when he’s done drilling support shafts for the Abernethy Bridge, he’ll be packed up and sent to his next job site.  

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