Bridge Maintenance

The City has over 20 bridges that are inspected every other year by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), on behalf of the City, and rated on their structural sufficiency. It’s important to know that even a lower rating does not necessarily mean a bridge is unsafe but rather, it is a score that considers different elements that make up a bridge structure and is used to determine eligibility for competitive funding for things like major maintenance expenses or full replacement.

Updates
 

2026 – SE Bridgeway Avenue Bridge Over the Millrace

Following a routine inspection, the City was recently contacted by ODOT regarding the condition of the SE Bridgeway Avenue bridge over the Millrace. Due to decay found in the bridge’s wooden substructure, limiting the loading of the bridge is required until repairs can be made. Additionally, the remaining loading that is allowed will need to be on the side of the bridge not as affected by decay.

To accomplish this, the bridge will be limited to a single lane with signs still allowing for two-way traffic and a new weight restriction posted. By restricting the bridge to a single lane, neighborhood access can be preserved while a repair to the portion of the bridge that requires it can be scheduled.

The previous routine bridge inspection from 2024 for this bridge did not identify this issue. Work is beginning to expedite repairs to be able to reopen the full width of the bridge, however an exact timeline is not available yet. Please check back periodically for updates.