The Oregon Department of Transportation in the US will open the first section of the new Willamette River Bridge on Interstate 5 by the end of August this year, ahead of the October deadline.
The $201 million project proposes to replace the existing 1,800-foot long bridge on I-5 over the Willamette River in Lane County.
The new bridge will be constructed at the same location as the existing bridge, but will require roadway alignment adjustments in the project area.
About 600 feet north of the existing bridge is an existing 100-foot long bridge over the Canoe Canal that will also be replaced as part of this project.
The new bridge will have six lanes of traffic to cater to future traffic needs.
Construction on the project began in 2009 and will be completed by the end of 2013.
Next winter, work will commence on the twin northbound span of the bridge and a bike-pedestrian bridge will be built in 2013.