ODOT, OTA Alert Trucking Industry of Impending Bridge Closure

Portland, Oregon -- Congestion -- a trucker's nightmare. Next week, congestion on Interstate 5 between Portland and Vancouver could be a trucker's worst nightmare. However, a concerted effort by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc., to alert the trucking industry of the Sept. 16 bridge closure, may change that.

ODOT has provided informational leaflets to both Oregon and Washington motor carrier weigh stations and ports of entry for distribution. The American and Canadian Trucking Associations have both been notified of the impending closure. The state transportation departments of Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California have all transmitted ODOT's message to the public by way of news release.

ODOT has offered a special weight-mile exemption to the trucking industry -- additional miles traveled along alternate routes during the construction period will be considered exempt from highway use tax in accordance with ORS 825.005(7). All exemptions are subject to audit, and complete records must be maintained to support claimed exemptions. ODOT will also allow motor carriers operating through or within the Portland area and within 180 miles of the bridge to purchase single trip permits authorizing overwidth movement from 3 a.m. through sunrise.

The OTA has alerted and reminded its membership on a regular basis. OTA's FAX EXPRESS Weekly Hotsheet reaches approximately 1,200 members and the Northwest Transporter, a monthly publication of the Washington and Oregon Trucking Associations reaches around 3,000 subscribers.