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Study: Major quake would knock out most Oregon bridges

The Richter Scale measures earthquakes

Credit: KGW Graphic

by Eric Adams

Posted on November 16, 2009 at 12:11 PM

Updated Tuesday, Nov 17 at 10:59 AM

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PORTLAND, Ore. -- A new report highlights the most likely potential earthquake scenarios in Oregon, and coastal communities could potentially be cut off from the rest of the state.

The Oregon Department of Transportation concluded that a major earthquake would make U.S. 101 along the Oregon Coast impassable, while cutting off all connections from coastal communities to Portland, Salem and other Willamette Valley communities.

Only small portions of Interstate 5 would be passable, too, ODOT said.

The study was conducted using a computer program that simulates potential earthquake damage to bridges. It took into consideration any current retrofitting underway or completed in the last two years and was overseen jointly by ODOT and Portland State University.

Read the full report here.

"The report recommends further study to update existing lifeline route designations to be consistent with new bridges built in the last 15 years since the original lifeline routes were identified," ODOT said. Lifeline routes were created during the 1980s.

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robert57 said on November 16, 2009 at 9:55 PM

The USS Ranger has already done these studies. It's one of the reasons why Ranger should be here in Portland so to save lives when the big one hits. It's a no brainer

corporatemom said on November 17, 2009 at 9:13 AM

Perhaps we should be using stimulus funds for bridge repair instead of light rail

shallowend said on November 17, 2009 at 9:41 AM

CorpMom - you've missed the point. This isn't a stimulus issue, it's a failure of state government for years issue (both the Democrats and Republicans get to share the blame). This another example of the "deferred maintenance" model that costs taxpayers through the nose. The script goes like this: "We can't afford to do maintenance because times are tough (or there are higher priorities). Waaah Waaah!" So there actual cost of a repair skyrockets and saving $100 million this year (quote from Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, Speaker of the house in 2001) ends up costing $500 million in 2009. The stimulus specifically excluded maintenance projects (which the states SHOULD have been doing right along). By the way, the number one objection that businesses have in moving to Oregon is Infrastrucure (Barrons, Forbes, Business Week), not taxes or fees. Want to attract business? Upgrade the roads and power grid.