The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is in the process of evaluating possible projects that qualify for $362 million in funding for bridges and resiliency through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
A total of $268 million will be provided for bridges and $94 million for system resiliency. Resiliency increases infrastructure’s ability to withstand and recover from events like natural disasters.
“We are grateful for these funds,” Bert Hartman, State Bridge Program and Standards engineer, said. “This allows us to address several additional projects our statewide program staff and region crews have already identified as future work items.”
During the project development and evaluation process, ODOT considers many factors, including local perspectives, cost-benefit analysis, inventory data, and inspection information. These factors are used to prioritize projects and identify recommendations for the Oregon Transportation Commission to consider.
Projects under consideration include repainting a portion of the Fremont Bridge connecting I-405 and I-5, replacing a culvert on U.S. 30 near the St. Johns Bridge, a bridge replacement needed to complete a jurisdictional transfer to a local agency, replacement of a culvert that supports fish passage, and a slope stabilization project to reduce rock-fall hazards.
ODOT has nearly 2,800 bridges in the state transportation system.