Multnomah County commissioners have signed off on the first big step toward replacing the aging Stark Street Bridge, giving staff permission Thursday to chase federal design money while weight limits and temporary fixes stay in place. The county will now seek a $5 million U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant to pay for preliminary design work. The more than 110-year-old span over the Sandy River is a lifeline for Springdale and Corbett and a busy access point for people heading into the Columbia River Gorge.
Commissioners Back Design Money Hunt
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to approve a notice of intent that allows staff to apply for the BUILD funding, according to The Portland Tribune. The $5 million would cover design and preliminary engineering, not actual construction. Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon told the paper that East County residents "rely heavily on this bridge" and said a string of crashes has pushed the county to finally pursue a permanent fix instead of patch jobs.
Damage, Repairs And A Hard-Fought Reopening
A supporting stone wall on the bridge's north approach partially collapsed in September 2024, which triggered a six-month emergency closure and $1.9 million in repairs, according to Multnomah County. Crews rebuilt the approach and reopened the span on March 6, 2025. Since then, they have been called back repeatedly after hits from large vehicles, including a semi-truck crash that briefly closed the bridge in October 2025, as reported by KPTV.
Truck Ban And Day-To-Day Headaches
After yet another round of collisions, Multnomah County in December 2025 barred semi-trucks and commercial rigs heavier than 19 tons from turning onto the span from the Historic Columbia River Highway. The restriction, which the county says will remain until a replacement is built, was reported by The Portland Tribune. Transportation officials point to the tight turn and the bridge's narrow roadway as a setup for frequent crashes and recurring structural damage. The result is longer detours and added travel time for residents and delivery routes, even as the county talks up a long-term fix.
Planning The Replacement
The notice of intent kicks off a multi-step process that still has to clear environmental review and secure construction money. The county's project page says staff will study replacement options and gather public input in the coming months, with a preferred alternative expected later in the planning timeline, according to Multnomah County. If the BUILD application hits, the $5 million would fund design work only, which means construction will still hinge on landing more grants or local matching dollars. County officials say they want to minimize environmental and visual impacts while bringing the bridge up to modern safety and seismic standards.
Big Price Tag, Long Timeline
Replacing the span will have to compete with a long list of other needs at a time when Oregon counties are already staring at large shortfalls for roads and bridges. The Association of Oregon Counties' 2024 County Road Needs Study pegged the annual funding gap for county systems statewide at $834 million, a number that makes big capital projects harder to pull off. In other words, even if the design grant comes through, it is just an early step, and Multnomah County will still need state, federal or local dollars to actually build the new bridge, a process that could stretch on for years.
For locals who depend on the crossing, the move toward a permanent solution is welcome, even if the timeline is not exactly comforting. Hoodline covered the bridge's emergency repairs and reopening last March; see Corbett And East County Reconnected for earlier coverage.
