Oregon Approves $45 Million in Seismic Safety Retrofits for Coastal Highway 101 Bridges

SALEM, OR — The Oregon Transportation Commission approved a $45 million seismic capital allocation under the Seismic Lifeline Bridge Program, funding structural retrofits for seven critical coastal bridges along US Highway 101 in Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties.

Ensuring Lifeline Emergency Corridors Following Megaquake

The engineering retrofits install steel jacket column casings, carbon-fiber beam wraps, and deep drilled shaft foundations designed to withstand a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and accompanying tsunami scour forces. ODOT engineers emphasized that US 101 serves as the sole lifeline evacuation and emergency relief corridor for isolated coastal communities.

Governor Tina Kotek affirmed that preparing Oregon's transportation network for seismic resilience is essential to save lives and ensure emergency supplies reach coastal residents.

Coastal Mayors and Engineering Experts Praise

Coastal county commissioners and emergency managers commended the prioritized bridge retrofits for securing lifeline supply chains.

Civil engineering contractors will employ marine barge drill rigs to execute seismic pile drilling without closing daytime travel lanes.

Groundbreaking Timeline

Seismic retrofitting on the Nehalem River Bridge will commence in October 2026.