WINCHESTER — The first four of 13 massive concrete beams that will be set over Interstate 5 at the new Del Rio Road crossing were hoisted into place late Sunday and early today.

Two cranes lifted and swung four 180,000-pound beams onto supports on both sides of the freeway. Working in tandem, crane operators smoothly maneuvered the 176-foot long beams.

The work required diverting northbound I-5 travelers onto Highway 99 and pacing southound motorists through the construction zone at controlled intervals. Beams will be set on two more nights, beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with traffic delays expected until 7 a.m. both nights.

Southbound traffic was slowed down 21 miles to the north, at Rice Hill. Pilot cars, accompanied by an Oregon State Police trooper, led the vehicles at a measured pace that gave the construction crew about a half-hour window to get one of the beams in place before the vehicles reached Winchester.

The work began at 10 p.m. Sunday, with the last of the four beams set down by 2:10 a.m. Kerr Contractors Inc. of Woodburn is handling the job.

“Everything seemed to go according to plan,” Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Dan Latham said.

The beams will support an overpass linking Del Rio Road with Umpqua College Road, leading to Umpqua Community College. The old crossing, a few hundred feet south, has cracks and needs to be replaced.

Moving the overpass and installing a traffic signal at the Highway 99 intersection where Del Rio and Umpqua College road will meet will improve traffic flow, according to ODOT.

Also, realigning Del Rio Road will improve road access to industrial lands on the west side of I-5.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in September.

Four more beams will be lifted into place late Tuesday and early Wednesday, with the final five beams going in the following night.

Latham said he was pleased the work went smoothly. Crews were able to get all four beams into place before traffic began increasing this morning.

“We were hoping to get everything done before the morning rush hour,” he said.

Sunday night traffic is the lightest of the week on I-5 and Highway 99, Latham said. He said he expects more motorists will be delayed when crews set beams Tuesday night.

“We are expecting more traffic tomorrow,” he said.

A trooper was stationed on the Winchester Bridge, near where northbound I-5 travelers were routed onto Highway 99.

The patrol car's flashing lights helped slow down drivers crossing a paved temporary road leading from the freeway to Highway 99.

Flaggers were stationed on Highway 99 to assist motorists turning into and from Umpqua College Road and Del Rio Road and to re-enter the freeway north of the work zone.

• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 541-957-4209 or by email at jsowell@nrtoday.com.