 Photo courtesy of KGW-TV and Oregon Department of Transportation. |
The baseline assumption for analysis in this study is that the HOV lane must be fit onto the existing Interstate Bridge. One of the main concerns with incorporating a HOV lane on the I-5 bridge is that the weight of a typical concrete barrier used to separate traffic is too much to allow the bridge span to be opened. Even if the counter weights on the existing bridge were changed, the movable concrete barrier would need to be manually be coupled and uncoupled. This would significantly add to the length of time the bridge would be closed to traffic during a lift.
       
|