10:33 AM PDT on Thursday, April 8, 2004

Associated Press

State transportation officials signed a deal this week with the engineering group chosen to oversee a plan to fix Oregon's cracked bridges.

Parts of the concrete decking on the St. Johns Bridge were crumbling before contractors began working to replace it. (ODOT/KGW Photo)

Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners will receive no more than $17.5 million for the first phase of the contract, which expires Dec. 31.

During the first phase, the group will be responsible for developing an overall program management plan. The group will also manage the repair of about 74 bridges totaling about $250 million. The spans are on U.S. Highways 92 and 26 and Interstate 5.

The state has a general agreement with the group that expires in 2012. Negotiations for the second phase of the contract, which will cover management of the remaining bridges, will start in a few months.