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Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
www.TheClackamasPrint.com
An independent, student-run newspaper since 1966
“Battle of the Bridge” can be waged again Arch Bridge reopens to vast relief of both commuters, Oregon City business owners Brad Heineke Photo Editor It has been a long two years during the closure of a 90-yearold bridge. The historic Oregon City-West Linn Arch Bridge will reopen at 5 a.m. October 15. The bridge, which spans the Willamette River below the falls and begins the south end of Oregon State Route 43, has been a landmark and source of pride for the community since its opening in December 1922. The 745-footlong bridge replaced a wooded suspension walking bridge that was built in 1888. The bridge has played a part in many fun and colorful aspects of
community history. It has been a figurative trophy in the 92-yearold high school football rivalry between Oregon City and West Linn, often called the longest continuously played prep football rivalry west of the Mississippi. The winning city “owns” the bridge for a year. In years past, the OCHS Pioneers team, students and marching band would parade across the bridge to the nearby West Linn High School for their game. “Battle for the Bridge” is in fact the name of the alumni fundraising game between the two high schools, which this year raised over $20,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As it approached a century old, this famous bridge was in need of major maintenance and rehabilitation repairs. It was closed to traffic including pedestrians, Jan. 15, 2011. The Arch Bridge is a steel bridge covered with concrete. As part of the project, workers removed the concrete, repaired the steel where necessary and then re-sprayed the concrete.
The bridge has been strengthened to better withstand earthquakes, the replica 1922 lighting has been replaced and the lighting improved overall and its guard rails are sturdier according to the Oregon Department of Transportation, which owns the bridge.
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The city is very excited about the reopening of the bridge. Doug Neeley Oregon City Mayor
The bridge could not be widened, but some of its posts were moved back five inches to give
drivers slightly more room. Being on the National Register of Historic Places, it could only be restored, so essentially looks the same as it did originally. This was the first major renovation done on the bridge since it was built. The construction costs for the project are at $14.6 million. Nearly 90 percent of this has been paid with federal funds. In 1922, the bridge was constructed for $300,000. “ODOT has been proud to work on this bridge,” stated Susan Hanson of ODOT. “We have worked closely with the local businesses, residents, and commuters throughout the project and appreciate their patience in the rehabilitation of this regional treasure.” Oregon City’s mayor agreed. “The city is very excited about the reopening of the bridge,” said Oregon City Mayor Doug Neeley. “There’s no question that the project has been an obstacle to some of the downtown businesses.” Downtown Oregon City even lost a few businesses during the construction.
“We actually had a few move, but the Main Street Oregon City organization has done a great job with promoting and has recruited twice as many as we lost,” Neeley said. “With the recently completed $2.5 million streetscape improvement project and the renovated bridge, we anticipate a nice increase in business downtown.” More than 13,500 vehicles use the bridge on average per day. This route cuts several miles of congested intersections off a regular commuters’ drive. Several hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists also use the bridge daily. It provides a convenient link from West Linn to downtown Oregon City, as well as access to the Tri-Met transit center. Bus line 35 Macadam and 154 Willamette used to cross the old bridge. The narrow bridge was a tight squeeze for these larger vehicles, as traffic would generally stop at the center span so the buses could pass through, taking up most of both lanes. Please see BRIDGE, Page 3
New cross-country coach brings his ‘A’ game Andrew Millbrooke Sports Editor If there is any sport that toils in more obscurity than cross country, I have yet to find it. To run cross country successfully, you must put in the mileage. That means hour after hour of punishing work. Early mornings and late night runs to get that second workout for the day. If you don’t put in the work and build the background base, you simply will not
succeed against well trained runners. New Head Cross Country coach Jerret Mantalas says his current group of runners did everything he asked over the summer in preparation for the season. “As a whole, people were willing to get after it,” said Mantalas. “That’s one thing I’ve been really happy about.” Mantalas has been associate head coach for the past two seasons under head track and field coach Keoni McHone at Clackamas Community College and previously worked as an assistant at Western Oregon University. “He’s on time and works
hard, so he expects the same from those around him,” said McHone of Mantalas. “The athletes can see that he is excited for their sport and they feed off that.” Mantalas looks young enough to be an athlete at Clackamas and McHone said that his “energy level” sets him apart from others. “He’s a good fit for the program,” said CCC Athletic Director Jim Martineau. “Since he’s been here we’ve increased our numbers.” Currently over 20 athletes are practicing daily with the cross country teams. Sophomore Cia Bywater has led the women this season
and has made a huge impression on her head coach. “Cia Bywater is a person you build a cross country team around,” said Mantalas. “She is our leader in every aspect that we do.” Bywater set a personal record for 5,000-meters during the 6,000-meter race at the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle on Sep. 15. Bywater finished 25th overall with a 23:08.59 clocking. “It was a very exciting race,” said Bywater. “It was cool to P.R.” Bywater is adjusting to dealing with Mantalas’ sarcasm. “I like him, he’s definitely one of the
best coaches,” said Bywater. “He’s a little sarcastic at times, but he’s pretty cool.” Please see COACH, Page 7
MANTALAS