Glenpool, OK and Oakville, WA | Oct. 25, 2021 – Despite rainy conditions, Premier Steel Services and The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Oakville, Wash, installed a bridge on Friday, Oct. 22, in one day, resolving a critical safety concern on the Reservation. The bridge was installed at a fraction of the cost and time as compared to traditional bridges, utilizing a patent-pending Fast Cast Bridge® system developed by Premier Steel Services.
The new bridge replaced a previously hazardous passageway that connects homes, farms and businesses on the Reservation. The original bridge, which was damaged in October of 2019 and reduced to a single-lane in 2020, has historically presented problems because it was narrow and presented a safety hazard for drivers, especially with rain and ice.
“This system created by Premier Steel significantly reduced the cost and time to replace a bridge, which typically takes more than a year to complete, and now even longer due to COVID-related supply delays,” said Bryan Sanders, project manager and transportation planner for the Chehalis Tribe.
A local crew began the installing the new 40-foot bridge located at 175 Howanut Road, Oakville, WA on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 a.m. and completed it the same day. At the time of bidding, the timeframe for a traditional box culvert was a year and a half. The Fast Cast Bridge® can be fabricated in 8-10 weeks, and preparation from start-to-finish, happens in a matter of weeks compared to months. The actual bridge typically takes only a day to install.
Because of the modular, steel frame, the Fast Cast Bridge® system allows for quick and safe completion of projects. “From grading to clean up, the entire process takes a fraction of the time of conventional bridge construction,” said Andy Vanaman, President of Premier Steel. “The actual installation happens in a matter of hours.”
The bridge is one of five bridges located on Howanut Road, the only road that runs from east to west on the Reservation. In recent years, housing on the west side of the Reservation has expanded, resulting in increased traffic for people traveling for work, healthcare and to access governmental programs. Located in the heart of the Northwest, the area experiences significant rainfall and connects to the Chehalis and Black rivers. The rivers produce quick flowing water, which runs under the new bridge during high water events.
“Having a sturdy new bridge with a clear span underneath will improve water flow from area rivers, and avoids the traditional clogging that happens with a traditional box culvert,” Sanders added. “The new bridge will dramatically improve transportation and safety for tribal members and the community at large.”
Premier Steel has installed 10 Fast Cast Bridge® systems around the U.S. and has five projects currently in design. The company is providing counties, municipalities and tribal nations with a cost-effective and efficient solution for repairing failing local infrastructure. This is the first project to be installed in Washington.