Dover Bridge work moves along

DOVER - Motorists are expected to get their first taste of the new U.S. Highway 2 bridge and parts of the new highway alignment this summer.

Thirty-four of the bridge's 77 girders have been set, according to project officials. The last 10 girders for the new bridge are set to leave Oklahoma by train imminently.

"That will be all the beams," said Kip Harris, project superintendent for Sletten Construction, lead contractor for the $22 million bridge project.

The setting of girders for the bridge has been the primary focus of the winter construction season. The girders are made of weathering steel called CORE-TEN, a group of alloys which form a durable rust-like finish and eliminate the need for paint.

The project's earthwork contractor, M.A. DeAtley will commence with the last round of drilling and blasting of the granite hillside on the north side of the bridge alignment in mid-April.