SALEM, Ore. — An Oregon state report released last week predicts that the state’s bridges will significantly deteriorate in the next two decades without more investment from the state.
The Statesman Journal reports that 64 of Oregon’s bridges are currently structurally deficient and that number is expected to grow by 14 per year.
The Oregon Department of Transportation says 27 bridges need to be replaced each year, but there’s currently only funding for three replacements.
ODOT spokesman Tom Fuller says the state needs an extra $180 million a year to fix the bridges. Leaving them to deteriorate is projected to cause the loss of 100,000 jobs and $94 billion in production by 2035.
Senate President Peter Courtney says he expects transportation funding to be the defining issue of the 2017 legislative session.
