Public invited to a Siuslaw Bridge project open house, Nov. 19

The public is invited to attend an open house and learn more about a project to protect, restore and improve the safety of the historic Siuslaw Bridge on US 101, at the south end of Florence. On Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., members of the project team will be available to explain details of the project that will begin in 2015 and continue for more than three years. The open house will be held at the Florence City Hall at 250 Highway 101. What: Project open house; When: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 19; Where: Florence City Hall, 250 Highway 101, Florence. This project will: Repair damaged concrete; Replace bridge railings; Upgrade the structure with seismic retrofits; Construct new sidewalks with ADA pedestrian ramps at the bridge ends; Apply a sacrificial zinc coating to the concrete, designed prevent corrosion of the structural steel reinforcements. The project won’t result in complete closures of the bridge but will require short-term, nighttime single lane closures. The project won’t result in the permanent elimination of parking beneath the north end of the bridge but will result in closure of the parking area for 15 months of the 3-and-a-half-year project. At the open house, project staff will discuss what residents and businesses can expect during construction, and what steps have been taken to minimize the construction impacts. To learn more about the project, visit: www.siuslawbridge.com