Hwy. 101 bridge construction begins in Gold Beach in January, Jan. 6

GOLD BEACH – Repair work is scheduled to begin on the U.S. 101 Rogue River Bridge early this month.  Starting Jan. 6, U.S. 101 motorists can expect intermittent weeknight lane closures across the bridge, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each Sunday night to Friday morning. All lanes will remain open on weekends. Most work will take place below deck and out of sight. Construction is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 20. The bridge underwent an extensive rehabilitation project more than 15 years ago. Recent bridge inspections have identified several beams as having an insufficient load rating. Next year’s project will strengthen the beams, repair deck joints, resurface the deck, and make other repairs. Stellar J of Woodland, Washington, is the prime contractor on the $3.3 million project. The historic bridge, which opened in 1931 and is formally known as the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge, is named after the 18th governor of Oregon. For more information, contact ODOT Public Information Officer Dan Latham at 541-957-3601 or Dan.Latham@odot.state.or.us.