Training center teaches apprentices how to build bridges

It’s not often that you will find a section of bridge at a training center. But that’s exactly what the Willamette Carpenters Training Center has erected on the back lot at its new facility in Northeast Portland.

“To my knowledge, we’re the only training center that has an actual bridge for apprentices to work on,” said Dan Voight, bridge building instructor and author of the 40-hour course curriculum. “Our bridge building class has been created with not just virtual, but actual hands-on training.”

There will be plenty of work for qualified hands.

The Oregon Legislature approved a transportation bill in 2003 to, in part, replace and repair some 335 bridges around the state at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion. Funding comes from increases in driver registration fees, titles and commercial truck weight-mile fees.

The Oregon Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the work, has instituted a program to increase apprenticeship, minority and women participation on all of its bridge and highway projects.

“There will be work for a decade,” said Bob Acker, president of Portland-based Pile Drivers and Divers Local 2416.

The core element of the Carpenters’ bridge training is two 40-hour courses. The first course consists of layout and erection of the false work, including layout and erection of bents, X-bracing, beam caps and decks. Safety, hand rails and tie-offs also are covered.

The erection of the actual box girder bridge is a separate 40-hour class. The deck is 14 feet high with a box girder bridge that is approximately 40-feet by 30-feet, and approximately 5 feet high.

“After completion of this training, apprentices and journeymen and women will know bridge-building techniques and sequences. They will be able to walk onto a job site — understand bridge terminology — and be ready to work,” said Voight. He has 30 years of bridge-building experience as a member of Local 2416.

The mock bridge is drawing a lot of attention to the training center.

Several signatory contractors have attended classes and donated material and equipment (to the tune of $60,000) to ensure that specific construction methods for Oregon bridge structures are being used.

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors also have toured the structure, offering guidance on safety regulations and procedures.

“We’ve had good participation from contractors and state agencies,” said John Schraner, apprenticeship coordinator for the training center. “I think it’s the most advanced training for bridge work anywhere in the Northwest.”

The bridge-building course is a required class for all apprentices.

Acker said the Willamette Carpenters Training Center will train approximately 350 apprentices in the basics of bridge building.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners has invited Voight to teach bridge-building at the Carpenters Training Center in Las Vegas. He is currently working on a curriculum that will be utilized by Carpenter training centers nationwide.

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