Construction crews working at the Elk Creek tunnel will close state Highway 38 between 9 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday to install a culvert.

The section to be closed is between Drain and Elkton. Traffic will be detoured to state Highway 138 and Interstate 5 while the closure is in effect. Oregon State Police will enforce the closure.

The closure is planned to allow workers to prepare the bridge for replacement work, which is scheduled from 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, to 6 a.m. Monday, May 12.

The bridge replacement is part of a project to replace five aging bridges on Highway 38 between Elkton and Drain. The bridges were built between 1929 and 1932.

This project marks the first time ODOT has used a technique called “rapid replacement” to build a new state highway bridge. Rapid replacement involves using hydraulic machinery to slide the new bridge into place after the old structure is demolished.

Crews have worked at the site since June 2007 to build the foundation for the new bridge in preparation for the rapid replacement. Rapid replacements have been used on other bridges in Oregon, most recently by the city of Rogue River.

ODOT’s contractor, Slayden Construction, also will use the rapid replacement technique this summer to replace the bridge on the west end of the tunnel. Slayden had planned to replace both Elk Creek tunnel bridges by June, but the closure of the Coos Bay rail line delayed the delivery of structural steel girders for the bridges from Reedsport. As a result, replacing the bridge on the west end of the tunnel now is scheduled for July or August.

For more information about the project, those interested can go to the Web site at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/ElkCreek.shtml.