Third Avenue Bridge and Water Works Park Progress Photos from Doug Verdier

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project. He has also been documenting the Third Avenue Bridge rehab project.

Lots of activity to watch this past week along the riverfront. Third Avenue Bridge repair activities included work on the bridge piers, which extend into the river below and support the foundation of the bridge. On the West side of the river, landscape workers continued planting shrubs and trees throughout the new park, and irrigation installation continued. 

Tons of crushed rock were poured through yellow tubes into the area near the base of one of the piers to be used in forming a platform around the pier. This photo was taken at the beginning of the operation. Later, rock was poured by front loaders over the edge of the bridge. Once sufficient rock was in place, it could be spread around the pier base.

Machinery was lowered by crane onto the area where the crushed rock was poured to spread the rock around the base of the pier to create a work area for subsequent repair to the base of the pier.

A closer view of one of the machines used to spread the rock. A worker in front of the machine gives perspective to the size of the pier and the work area created by spreading the crushed rock.

On an adjacent bridge span, workers use a barge to position a machine to remove damaged concrete facing of the pier base. This section of the bridge is accessible by barge.

A closer look at the barge supporting the machinery used to remove the outer layer of concrete from the pier base.

Rebar can be seen on this pier base where outer concrete has already been removed.

Back at Water Works Park, the South Plaza area now has white pine trees and other plantings in place. Irrigation lines were previously imbedded beneath the surface area to ensure watering. The area is then mulched.

More plantings being done near the Bank of America City Steps along First Street.

During excavation of the former buildings on site, these artifacts of the mills that once operated at the location were saved for possible future display yet to be determined.