Contractor details $64 million CN bridge replacement; council warned of summer construction, noise and limited boat access

At a local council meeting (body name not specified), Taylor Shellock, project manager for Cramer, told officials and residents the company has a $64,000,000 contract to replace the U.S. portion of a movable bascule span and one short approach span. "So it's a $64,000,000 project," Shellock said, summarizing the contract value and scope.

Shellock said the project is staged: utility relocations would begin as early as April, verification borings are tentatively slated for May, and a full marine fleet is expected by July to support in-water work. "We're going to start doing some utility relocations" in April, he said; the loudest and most disruptive work — shaft drilling — is projected for July and August. He estimated each drilled shaft will take about "three days per shaft."

Permits remain outstanding. Shellock said CN has obtained a state water-quality permit but is still waiting on joint-jurisdiction signoff and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval, which he described as prerequisites for full mobilization.

Residents raised concerns about local water access and past damage to a community boat launch. An unidentified council participant said trees had been cut and a previously rebuilt launch was cracked after another barge used the site. In response, Shellock described Cramer's typical practice: perform a site survey (photos/video), draft a contract that requires the work area to be "put back to the existing condition or better," and withhold final payment until the city or its representative signs off. "Until I have that signature, I don't get paid fully," he said.

Shellock detailed equipment and impacts. He said the contractor will deploy large drill rigs and a "cluster drill" assembly with multiple rotary hammers and six 1,600 CFM compressors; he warned the compressors are "roughly the size of a dump truck" and that drilling will be "super loud." He also described barge loads and dimensions — attempting to limit barge width to roughly 60 feet and lengthwise to about 80 feet while noting the barge spread could put about 700,000 pounds on the water.

On fabrication and logistics, Shellock named Gunderson Marine and Iron in Portland, Oregon, as the steel fabricator and said the castings for the main bascule girder are being produced in central Mexico with long lead times. He also described assembled track girders weighing about 450,000 pounds and individual girder pieces shipped at full length (more than 100 feet), noting CN would not permit a mid-span splice for vertical-clearance reasons.

The council and contractor discussed community coordination. Council members asked that the contractor work through the city administrator, Cheryl, to provide advance notice of blasting or times when the boat launch would be unavailable, and to provide renderings or visual mockups before work. Shellock agreed to deliver a rendition and to coordinate schedules to avoid major community events when feasible. The council identified a key event window in early August (Aug. 7–9, fireworks on Aug. 8) and asked the contractor to minimize disruptions then.

Shellock repeatedly framed the schedule as contingent on permitting and CN coordination; he identified Kevin Donahue as a CN contact and said he had met Donahue in a preconstruction meeting. No formal decision or vote on the project was taken at the meeting; the session recorded the presentation, community questions and an agreement to follow up with additional documentation and a pre-May meeting with CN and the city.

What happens next: Shellock said he would provide renderings and site documentation to the council, coordinate with the city administrator for community notice, and seek further coordination with CN. The council did not take a formal action on project approval during the meeting.