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January storm causes more than $22 million in damage to Oregon roads
03/19/2012
 
In late January, Mother Nature dumped nine inches of rain on some parts of the state and sent hurricane-force winds hurling at the coast. 

Oregon’s highways were hit hard, but dedicated crews at ODOT, local governments, and contractors responded quickly to open up roads and protect the safety of the traveling public.
 
 ODOT battled snow in the Cascades, high water on highways throughout the Willamette Valley, and landslides, rockfalls and collapsing highways on US 101 and routes leading to the coast. Hundreds of trees fell on highways and numerous sections of highway—including I-84 through the Columbia Gorge, US 101 near Newport, and OR 38 near Reedsport—had one or more lanes closed.
 
 
As the debris has been cleared, trees removed, and potholes filled, ODOT and local governments have totaled up the damage. To date, ODOT estimates $9 million in damage to state highways at 269 different sites, and counties estimates $13.4 million in damage to their major roads. Altogether, Oregon will be applying to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for $22.4 million in Emergency Relief funding to reimburse the cost of opening roads and repairing damage from the storm.