Two bridges on southbound Interstate 5 near Cottage Grove, Ore., have reopened to heavy-haul permit truck traffic up to 98,000 pounds after repairs to strengthen the spans.

The I-5 bridges cross the Coast Fork Willamette River at milepost 180 and the Row River at milepost 175. They were closed in November to southbound trucks with axle loads over the legal limit due to wear-related cracking that weakened both bridges. Trucks permitted to haul axle loads heavier than the legal limit were detoured off the freeway to allow bridge repairs.
Repairs now have strengthened the bridges enough to allow annual heavy haul permit loads up to 98,000 pounds. Permits to haul even heavier loads will be processed by the Oregon Motor Carrier Division on a case-by-case basis.
The bridges are restricted to the following load limits. (There are no width restrictions on these bridges.) Divisible loads: 20,000 pounds per single axle and 34,000 pounds per tandem axle with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 105,500 pounds. Non-Divisible loads: 21,500 pounds per single axle and 43,000 pounds per tandem axle with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 98,000 pounds.
All vehicles exceeding these weights must detour off the freeway at Exit 182 southbound to Oregon 99 southbound and re-enter I-5 southbound at Exit 170.
For more information, contact: Motor Carrier Division Over-Dimensional Operations at 503-373-0000, or on the Web at www.odot.state.or.us/trucking/.