On Thursday, Feb. 12, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a notice of intent, giving staff the green light to apply for a $5 million federal grant that would go toward replacing the Stark Street Bridge in Troutdale.
The grant is through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. The funding would go toward design of the new Stark Street Bridge.
Multnomah County is taking proactive steps to replace the current crossing over the Sandy River that serves as a critical connection for east County residents and access to the scenic Columbia River Gorge. The Stark Street Bridge is more than 110 years old and at the end of its service life.
“East County residents rely heavily on this bridge as well as those visiting our scenic areas and tourist destinations,” District 4 Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon said. “But there have been a series of crashes into the bridge that have caused long-term closures of the bridge, creating longer detours for our community. That’s why the County is prioritizing this bridge replacement project to continue crucial infrastructure improvements in East County.”
The Stark Street Bridge Replacement Project is currently in the Environmental Review Phase.
“During this phase, the County will evaluate potential options for replacing the existing bridge with a new structure that integrates seamlessly into the natural area, while meeting modern design and safety standards,” Multnomah County Project Manager Megan Neill said.
The project team will apply for the grant this month and expects to hear back on the application in summer 2026.
Semi-trucks closure
In December 2025, the County closed the Stark Street Bridge to all semi-trucks and commercial trucks that weigh more than 19 tons and are traveling from the Historic Columbia River Highway.
The County made this change after semi-trucks repeatedly hit the bridge, frequently taking the turn onto the bridge too quickly. These crashes often resulted in damage to the bridge or its approach. To keep everyone safe, this new restriction will be in place until the bridge is replaced.
Emergency repair project
In September 2024 a supporting stone wall for the Stark Street Bridge partially collapsed. The bridge was closed for six months for emergency repairs and reopened on March 6, 2025. The partial collapse in 2024 was caused by a series of crashes by vehicles and large trucks over the last decade that weakened the supporting wall.
The County rebuilt the north bridge approach during those emergency repairs, making it safe for all traffic to use the bridge. However, since the bridge reopened, semi-trucks continued to crash into the bridge while making the turn from the Historic Columbia Highway.
Multnomah County maintains the Stark Street Bridge on the Sandy River. For information, visit: https://www.multco.us/bridges.