Fewer Oregon bridges 'structurally deficient'

The Siuslaw River Bridge is undergoing improvements (file image courtesy ODOT).

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Story Published: Nov 3, 2009 at 9:15 AM PST

By Tom Adams KVAL News

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25% of Oregon’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
There are 122 high hazard dams in Oregon. A high hazard dam is defined as a dam whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage.
8 of Oregon’s 1,204 dams are in need of rehabilitation to meet applicable state dam safety standards.
32% of high hazard dams in Oregon have no emergency action plan (EAP). An EAP is a predetermined plan of action to be taken including roles, responsibilities and procedures for surveillance, notification and evacuation to reduce the potential for loss of life and property damage in an area affected by a failure or mis-operation of a dam.
Oregon’s drinking water infrastructure needs an investment of $4.27 billion over the next 20 years.
Oregon ranked 32nd in the quantity of hazardous waste produced and 26th in the total number of hazardous waste producers.
Oregon’s ports handled 36 million tons of waterborne traffic in 2005, ranking it 24th in the nation.
Oregon reported an unmet need of $123,000 for its state public outdoor recreation facilities and parkland acquisition.
18% of Oregon’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
42% of Oregon’s major urban highways are congested.
Vehicle travel on Oregon's highways increased 41% from 1990 to 2007.
Oregon has $2.88 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs.

American Society of Civil Engineers

LOWELL, Ore. -- Nearly one in four Oregon bridges need repairs to ward off failures like the one that closed the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco area.

That's the good news.

In 2004, engineers deemed nearly one in three bridges in Oregon "structurally deficient."

The nation's civil engineers delivered their annual report card on the nation's key infrastructure, like bridges, roads and dams.

Bridges top the list for Oregon and most other states. And without a recent effort to upgrade bridges, Oregon's marks would be even worse.

"Well, actually we're in better shape now than we were in the early 2001-2002 period," Rick Little with the Oregon Department of Transportation said.

In 2004, 33 percent of Oregon bridges were considered structurally deficient. This year, that ratio is down to 27 percent. In 5 years, the goal is to lower it to 22 percent.

ODOT said the next repairs in Lane County will involve bridges on Highway 126 west of Eugene, including the KR Nielsen bridge over the railroad tracks near Fisher Road.

Officials said it's because the state's crash program of road and bridge repairs is paying off.

"Without that $1.3 billion, our bridges would be in far worse shape than they are now," Little said. The money was approved in 2003 by the Oregon Legislature.

Another big part of the report card: dams. Lookout Point Reservoir is part of the Willamette Valley system managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The ASCE engineers report points to 122 high hazard dams in Oregon.

"To classify a dam as high hazard," said Army Corps Operations Superintendent Roger Kline, "does not mean that it's high risk."

Kline said the designation means if the dam were to fail, it could cause heavy damage and loss of life.

He said the dams held their own in the 1996 floods in Lane County under tremendous pressure.

"It just reinforces the fact of how important our dam safety program is, the periodic inspections, the monthly and weekly maintenance," Kline said.

That means invest the money -- before the report card delivers a failing grade.

The same engineers report notes drinking water systems in Oregon need $4.2 billion for repairs in the next 20 years.

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