The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) just released their 2024 Bridge inventory and condition report.
According to ODOT Director Kris Strickler, “Much of our transportation infrastructure is aging and nowhere is this more apparent than with Oregon’s bridges and pavements. We do our best to preserve and repair our bridges as replacing them is costly. We face a growing backlog of bridge preservation needs caused by the structural revenue issue facing transportation agencies across the nation. ODOT is working with our partners to identify sufficient and sustainable funding that would allow us to fund our critical core services including preserving our bridges, maintaining our transportation system, and making travel safer for all Oregonians.”
ODOT inspects bridges over a two-year cycle and summarizes bridge condition ratings on state highways based on National Bridge Inventory (NBI) and ODOT data. NBI ratings look at the major structural components of a bridge (deck or driving surface, superstructure, and substructure (base), or culvert rating), deficient bridge classification, and structural condition rating.
According to ODOT, “A significant portion of state-owned bridges are still in fair condition due to regular maintenance. However, much like maintaining a car, continuing to make expensive repairs on bridges nearing the end of their lifespan becomes less cost effective and practical.
The normal lifespan of a bridge is between 75-100 years and 60% of our inventory was built before 1973. In the foreseeable future, there will be more than 1,000 Interstate Era bridges that must be replaced. However, current funding levels pay for on average only three bridge replacements each year. At this rate, an Oregon bridge will need to stay in service for over 900 years, well beyond the expected service life.”
Compared to other western states, ODOT has the most bridges in fair condition. To keep bridges in fair condition or better ODOT performs both maintenance and preservation activities. Effective bridge preservation actions are intended to delay the need for costly reconstruction or replacement by applying preservation strategies on bridges while they are still in good or fair condition and before the onset of serious deterioration. Bridge preservation encompasses preventive maintenance and rehabilitation activities.
Highlights from the report
- ODOT owns and maintains 2,781 bridges.
- 60% of state-owned bridges in the National Bridge Inventory were built before 1973.
- Last year, ODOT completed 1,331 state-owned bridge inspections.
- ODOT paved 35 bridge decks, repaired six bridges in poor condition and addressed 63 other bridges with high-priority maintenance needs.
- ODOT assessed 130 bridges for load rating in 2024 and placed new or revised restrictions on 11.
