The Oregon Department of Transportation released its 2025 Bridge Conditions Report on April 2, highlighting the condition of bridges across the state and ongoing efforts to keep them safe and operational.
Bridges play a vital role in connecting communities and supporting the movement of people and goods throughout Oregon. The report details how ODOT maintains its network of 2,786 state-owned bridges through regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs.
According to the department, safety is their top priority. “Bridges that remain open to traffic have been inspected and meet safety standards,” ODOT said in the report. Certified inspectors conduct required bridge inspections every two years, but maintenance crews also check bridges between these intervals to address issues as they arise. If concerns are identified during any inspection or routine check, ODOT said it acts immediately by making repairs, setting weight limits, or closing a bridge if necessary.
Preventive measures taken by maintenance crews include clearing drainage systems to prevent water damage, cleaning expansion joints for structural flexibility, removing vegetation that can cause corrosion, sealing bridge decks against moisture and chemicals, and repairing worn surfaces such as asphalt or concrete. These activities help avoid imposing weight restrictions that could force trucks or emergency vehicles onto longer routes—delaying response times and increasing transportation costs.
ODOT uses national standards from the National Bridge Inventory to rate each structure’s condition on a scale from zero (worst) to nine (best). Most state-owned bridges—about 84 percent—are currently rated in fair condition. The agency notes that many recent changes in ratings are due not only to physical changes but also updated federal inspection standards being phased in through 2027.
The report states that about sixty percent of Oregon’s bridges were built before 1973. As these structures age under heavier traffic loads than originally designed for, they require more frequent repairs similar to maintaining older homes or cars. To manage this challenge with limited funding for replacements, ODOT prioritizes targeted repairs while structures are still serviceable; increases inspection frequency on older bridges; focuses resources on key freight routes; and undertakes seismic upgrades for earthquake resilience—all aimed at extending bridge lifespans up to seventy-five years or more.
Other highlights from last year include completion of over thirteen hundred inspections; replacement of six bridges; addition of five new structures; urgent repairs on dozens more by Major Bridge Maintenance crews; and load rating assessments completed for both state- and locally owned spans.
For further details about specific projects or overall conditions statewide readers can visit the Bridge Conditions Report webpage.
