First Boeing Planes Roll Along Atkinson's Replacement Bridge

February 2, 2015

First Boeing Planes Roll Along Atkinson's Replacement Bridge
RENTON, Wash. – This winter, a handful of Atkinson employees paused as the first Boeing 737 crossed the new Boeing North Bridge. This project replaces the existing 1944 bridge located at the mouth of the Cedar River as it enters Lake Washington. Boeing uses the bridge to tow 737 airplanes up to 40 per month from the Renton assembly plant to the flight line at Renton Airport, where they are prepared for their first flight. Work includes the construction of a temporary bridge, demolition of the existing bridge, and construction of the new permanent bridge.
 
The majority of work occurs during the summers between June 1 and August 15 to comply with salmon spawning in-water work window constraints. This contract also includes the demolition of existing approach aprons including foundations to below the planned dredge elevation, removal of bulkheads and restoration of channel grading, construction of channel bank armoring, and restoration of channel habitat.
 
The unique schedule restrictions forced Atkinson's team to divide the project into three seasons of work. During the initial season, they erected the temporary bridge to handle immediate airplane crossings. The following season, the team worked around the clock to demolish the original bridge and construct the replacement within the existing footprint. Four months after the second season ended, the first plane crossed the new structure.
 
The third and final season will soon be underway. Atkinson will remove the temporary bridge and restore parts of the riverbank and landscape the area around the newly constructed bridge. The full project is on target for a December 2015 substantial completion.