Premier Steel - Confederated Tribes of Chehalis

Washington Tribe Installs Fast Cast Bridge® in One Day

Topics: Accelerated, Case Study, Prefabricated

Article and photos provided by Premier Steel – a full-service structural steel and fabrication provider that excels in the ability to consistently produce quality structures on time and within budget.

The Challenge

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Oakville, Washington, needed to replace a critical bridge connecting homes, farms and businesses on the reservation. The original bridge was narrow and presented a safety hazard for drivers, especially with rain and ice. It was damaged in October 2019 and reduced to a single lane in 2020.

Premier Steel - Confederated Tribes of Chehalis - Map

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is located in southwest Washington.

The bridge is on Howanut Road, the only road running east to west through the reservation. In recent years, housing expanded, resulting in increased traffic for people traveling for work, healthcare and to access government programs. The area experiences significant rainfall and connects to the Chehalis and Black rivers, which produce quick-flowing water. The Chehalis Tribe needed a safe and quick solution, but the time frame for a traditional bridge was a year and a half.

The Solution

Premier Steel Services fabricated and delivered an 11’ x 34’ x 40’ Fast Cast Bridge® (patent pending). We also provided pedestrian lanes on both sides of the roadway shoulders.

The Process

The bridge was ordered on June 28, 2021. Fabrication began in three weeks and was completed four weeks later. Local crews began preparing the site on October, 2021, by installing a temporary bypass road and securing the project boundaries. The following week, the bridge officially closed for demolition, the site was prepped for the new Fast Cast Bridge®, and footings were poured. Installation occurred on Oct. 22, 2021.

Local crews prepped the site for the new Fast Cast Bridge®, and footings were poured.

The Results

Despite rainy conditions, a local crew began installing the bridge at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, and completed it the same day. The bridge opened on Nov. 11, only one month after demolition. That night, the area experienced significant flooding when the Chehalis River spilled over its banks and flowed into the Black River. While the temporary bypass road was wiped out, the new Fast Cast Bridge® safely handled the rushing waters.

A local crew began installing the bridge at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, and completed it the same day.

The new Fast Cast Bridge® resolved a critical safety concern on the reservation while avoiding the typical long-term road closures associated with conventional bridge installations, and at a fraction of the cost.

“Having a sturdy new bridge with a clear span underneath has improved water flow from area rivers, and avoided the traditional clogging that happens with standard precast box culverts. The new bridge has dramatically improved transportation and safety for tribal members and the community at large.”

— Bryan Sanders, Project Manager and Transportation Planner, Chehalis Tribe, Tribal Construction

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Watch a Fast Cast Bridge® Installation

Premier Steel Services installed a similar Fast Cast Bridge® on June 2, 2021 in Mayes County, Oklahoma. The total build and concrete time was 8 hours. Watch the video to see a Fast Cast Bridge® installed: