TriMet MOW crews address service disruptions on Steel Bridge

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) maintenance-of-way crews have been repairing signals that have caused delays in light-rail traffic over the Steel Bridge, agency officials announced on Friday.

Signal issues occurred while the MOW crews were completing track repairs on the west end of the bridge during the past two weeks. The trackwork included excavating asphalt around the rails and replacing joint bars, which are bolted to the rails at the expansion joints, TriMet officials said in a press release.

As trackwork was completed, electrical components that were buried in the roadway began to misfire. Crews identified problem locations and made repairs on Friday.

"This work will be further reinforced in the coming weeks when the permanent welds are put in place," TriMet officials said.

The agency plans to make $2.5 million worth of track and switch improvements on its system over the next year and a half. During the next two years, $585,000 in federal grant funds will be used to replace and improve signals, gate mechanisms and other electrical systems, TriMet officials said.