Contact: Bill Morgan, County Engineer, 682-6990

Road name:               Goodpasture Road

Location:                    Goodpasture Covered Bridge

Reason for notice:     Over the past two weeks, Lane County has been working with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and their consultant bridge engineers to perform specialized testing on the structural timber of the Goodpasture Covered Bridge. A "Resistograph" device was used to perform non-destructive testing of the condition of structural timber members that help support the bridge. This specialized examination has revealed a previously unknown pocket of decay along with cracking of a structural timber member critical for the bridge to carry existing loads of traffic.  

As a result of this inspection, ODOT has issued a new inspection report for this bridge, giving it a Sufficiency Rating of 20.2 (out of a possible 100). More importantly, Lane County is being advised that the Goodpasture Covered Bridge should only carry traffic weighing up to 15 tons (or 30,000 pounds) due to the loss of structural strength.  

On December 24, 2009, Lane County will post signs alerting the public that only vehicles loaded up to15 tons will be allowed to cross the bridge. Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks will still be allowed to use the bridge until further notified. In addition, we are working with the local schools to determine if bus traffic over the bridge will be impacted. Further information will be provided before school starts again on January 4.   

In addition, normal winter road maintenance such as plowing and sanding may likely be affected given these load restrictions. We ask the public to be patient while we work out the details caused by this load restriction. 

Goodpasture Covered Bridge was originally constructed in 1938, and it has had numerous repairs and on-going maintenance by Lane County over the past 72 years in order to preserve its historical and functional characteristics. However, the bridge is likely to be at an age and condition where it has well exceeded its intended design life. Lane County will continue to further analyze options and costs for bridge repairs or replacement. 

Amber Fossen

Public Information Officer

Lane County Government

125 E. Eighth Ave.

Eugene, Oregon 97401

(541) 682.3718

(541) 359.9143 (cell)