ODOT seeks multi‑year time extension for Abernathy Bridge work; Oregon City wins commitment to negotiate business‑focused IGA

The Oregon City Commission on April 1 heard a detailed presentation from the Oregon Department of Transportation on delays and remaining work for the Abernathy Bridge widening and seismic retrofit, and unanimously directed staff to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would set local deliverables for signage, business access and other mitigations.

ODOT Region 1 manager Ryan Winshimer told the commission the bridge contractor is ‘‘making progress’’ but that schedule changes and unexpected structural work extended the project. ODOT project managers said major bridge work and large equipment are expected through spring–fall 2027, the agency anticipates barges and cranes removed by the end of 2026, soil‑stabilization work will occur in 2027–28 and final landscaping and a plant‑establishment period would follow in 2028.

Why it matters: businesses along the river told the commission the staging and appearance of the work have driven customers away and caused steep revenue declines. Several business owners urged stronger, enforceable commitments from ODOT — particularly signage that…