PORT ANGELES — Elwha River Road bridge builders are playing both ends toward the middle.
For that matter, they’re playing both ends toward the shores.
The span is being cantilevered from the top of a pier on the east side of the river.
Concrete is poured for one 14-foot section of deck over the water, then balanced with a 14-foot section toward the shore.
Once the eastern half of the bridge is poured, the automated German-built “traveler” unit pouring the concrete will move to the west bank pier and repeat its balancing act.
“The whole unit moves east and west and teeter-totters on the pier,” said John Suehr of Parsons RCI Inc. of Sumner, the same contractor building the Eighth Street bridges in Port Angeles.
