Overview
Building the first earthquake-ready interstate bridge across the Willamette River in the Portland area.
Did you know the Abernethy Bridge construction project is ODOT's largest construction project in over 45 years? When completed, this project will make the Abernethy Bridge the first earthquake-ready interstate bridge over the Willamette River in the Portland area. We are also improving on- and off-ramps near the bridge, along with making improvements to local bike and pedestrian routes.
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Q: What improvements are currently under construction?
ODOT is widening and upgrading the Abernethy Bridge to withstand a major earthquake, improving interchanges at OR 43 and OR 99E, and upgrading on- and off-ramps to increase safety. A sound wall near southbound Exit 9 is also part of the project.
Q: Why was it necessary to close the on-ramp from northbound OR 43 to northbound I-205?
Previously, there were two I-205 northbound on-ramps. One served northbound OR 43 and the other served southbound OR 43. We closed, and will eventually demolish, the northbound I-205 on-ramp from northbound OR 43. Traffic accessing northbound I-205 from OR 43 in both directions now uses a roundabout. Consolidating these two separate northbound access points eliminated the merging and weaving that occurred on I-205, which reduces rear-end crashes and improves traffic flow.
Q: What can travelers expect while the Abernethy Bridge is under construction?
Two lanes in each direction of I-205 will remain open during weekday business hours. Travelers can expect lane closures, directional and some full closures with signed detours at night or on weekends. Local roads will also experience lane closures and other traffic restrictions. Traveler information signs in the area, the project website, and TripCheck will inform drivers of construction impacts.
Q: Will there be a toll on this bridge?
In March 2024, at the direction of Governor Kotek and the Oregon Transportation Commission, we have stopped work on a regional toll program. We are working with the Oregon Legislature to receive direction on how to pay for the project, which may include alternative funding sources, direction to resume tolling, or direction to reallocate funding from other projects in the region.
Project benefits
Fewer crashes
Improved interchanges and on- and off- ramps will make travel safer, resulting in fewer crashes.
Earthquake-ready bridge
The Abernethy Bridge will be the first earthquake-ready interstate bridge over the Willamette River in the Portland area.
Stay safe out there. Pay attention to signs and travel safely through the construction zone. River access and local boat launch remain available during construction.
Latest news
Past editions
View our live construction cameras!
Track our progress in real time as construction on the Abernethy Bridge project progresses.
Use the navigation arrows in the top right corner of the video frame to see all four of our time-lapse construction cameras.
View all four construction live feeds » (link takes the user offsite)
Meet Oscar the Oscillator
Oscar the Oscillator was a key part of building a safer, earthquake-ready Abernethy Bridge.
Workforce and contractor diversity
We are committed to developing a workforce that reflects our communities and positions Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) for success. With specific diversity goals for contracting and hiring, we connected with DBEs and established a local zip code hiring pilot program. We are exceeding our goal by seven percent and expect to continue this trend through project completion. Click below for details.
This project is part of our Urban Mobility Strategy, which is a cohesive approach to reduce congestion, improve safety and modernize the Portland region’s transportation system.
Stay connected and join our email/text list!
The I-205 Abernethy Bridge construction project team regularly distributes a project newsletter and press releases, along with email and text message alerts about construction-related detours and other issues. We’re also available to attend community meetings to provide project updates. Please sign up for email and text message alerts below.
Contact our project team
Phone: 503-731-8276
Email: 205improvements@odot.oregon.gov
Read more about other projects on I-205 »
Contracting opportunities
If you are a contractor interested in working on this project, learn more at ODOT’s Business Opportunities and Resources »
Accommodations for translations, interpretations or ADA
For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information call 503-731-4128, or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.
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