The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has received $83,215,245 in federal reimbursement to cover the cost of emergency repairs to roads and critical infrastructure damaged during multiple natural disasters between 2017 and 2024. The funds, awarded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program, support ODOT’s efforts to restore essential transportation routes affected by wildfires, ice storms, floods, and landslides.
The largest award, $30.7 million, reimburses repairs after the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, which caused widespread damage to highways across the state due to fallen trees, fire impacts, and slope instability. ODOT also received $23.2 million for work following severe winter storms in December 2022, including flooding and landslides that impacted I-84 and destroyed part of Highway 101. Another $20 million covers infrastructure repairs related to the January 2024 ice storm, which damaged roads, signs, and drainage systems statewide.
Additional funding includes:
- $3.16 million for damage from winter storms in late 2021
- $2.77 million for storm impacts in February 2019
- $2.5 million for December 2023 storms that caused road collapses and closures in Tillamook County
- $538,915 for wildfire-related recovery from the 2017 fire season
- $300,000 for recovery following a major atmospheric river event in January 2021
ODOT carried out emergency repairs across key federal-aid routes, including I-84, US 30, OR 101, OR 26, OR 138, and others. Work included debris removal, slope stabilization, culvert replacements, and roadway reconstruction. The FHWA Emergency Relief Program reimburses states for eligible expenses incurred during disaster response and recovery.
These funds help ODOT maintain safe and reliable transportation infrastructure while responding to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events across Oregon.