Oregon City businesses and ODOT clash over bridge closure

OREGON CITY, Ore. – Businesses in Oregon City said ODOT is not doing enough to help them with the impact of a two-year bridge closure at a meeting Tuesday.

ODOT plans to close the 87-year-old Seventh Street Arch Bridge from West Linn to Oregon City in early 2010 for a major restoration project, costing $15 million.

But some Oregon City businesses in town are not satisfied with ODOT’s answers, fearing the bridge closure will cost them their livelihoods.

“This is not a bridge to nowhere,” said Taci Philbrook, an Oregon City business owner. “We don’t want to turn our town into a ghost town.”

Another business owner, Robb Crocker, agreed.

“ODOT needs to help us, what we’ve been hearing from ODOT is this is your responsibility—here are some resources, but it’s still your responsibility,” he said. “What we want from ODOT is to have them come along beside us. We know how to get this money.”

ODOT said they understood the frustration over the impact of a two-year closure and offered some help such as signage on 99E that will direct traffic to the downtown area.

Businesses have sent 53 pages of public input to the federal agency funding the project.

“We’re going to keep enough pressure, friendly pressure, to achieve our goals,” said Crocker.