As work continues on the I-205 Abernethy Bridge project, costs to complete the work continue to grow.
At its December meeting earlier this month, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved an additional $72 million for phase 1A of the bridge project, which has been underway since 2022. This will be the project’s third cost hike since construction began and brings the total price of phase 1A to $672.2 million. The Oregon Department of Transportation now expects the whole project to cost around $815 million, though officials said that figure could rise further.
“OTC previously approved additional construction authorizations of $19.8 million in November 2023 and $85.2 million in May 2024, to allow ODOT to address cost increases due to project changes, including supply chain issues, excavation obstructions, structural engineering elements and unanticipated project changes,” an agenda packet for the meeting states.
The project will seismically improve the bridge, which carries travelers on I-205 across the Willamette River between West Linn and Oregon City. The project is also meant to increase safety for drivers entering and exiting the freeway from Highway 43 or Oregon Route 213.