Lissa Willis

Planners will re-evaluate the bridges in light of data from Oregon State University that shows more strength remains in the cracking concrete than previously believed, said Lissa Willis, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Transportation. (more...)

Planners will re-evaluate the bridges in light of data from Oregon State University that shows more strength remains in the cracking concrete than previously believed, said Lissa Willis, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Transportation.

"They're not all OK, but they are going to be looked at again and rescoped," she said.

The bridges will still need work, but some spans may be shifted from the "need to be replaced" status to the less-expensive "repair" status, she said.
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In order to meet the timeline for the coming summer, state-funded crews are working through the winter on several local roads and bridges, Willis said.

The backlog of needed bridge repairs statewide tops $4 billion, so the new study means dollars will stretch further.They still won't pay for all the needed work, she said.

Lissa WillisPublic Affairs SpecialistOregon Department of Transportation 503-986-3985lissa.willis@odot.state.or.us
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Lissa Willis

Nineteen bridges scheduled for repair are in the Salem area, said Lissa Willis-Stokes, public information representative for ODOT's Bridge Delivery Unit.At least 1,000 jobs in related industries could be created in the Salem area, she said.Design work on 13 of the bridges near Salem will start in 2005, and construction will begin in 2006.

For every $1 million spent, 19 family-wage jobs are expected to be supported, Willis-Stokes said.All of the design work and all of the construction will be done by private firms.
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Willis-Stokes said Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners has been contacted by several design firms who are interested in opening offices in Salem to do design work related to the transportation investment act.
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The majority will be from Oregon, Willis-Stokes said.

Rounding out our rafting crew were my mother, Lissa Willis, who is a public affairs representative with the Oregon Department of Transportation, and our friend, Rosie Apodaca, administrative assistant for Kiwanis International.

Lissa WillisPublic Affairs SpecialistOregon Department of Transportation 503-986-3985lissa.willis@odot.state.or.us

Lissa Willis, ODOT public affairs representative said that drivers should be aware that there will be more traffic flow changes in the next few weeks.
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Lissa Willis, ODOT public affairs representative said that drivers should be aware that there will be more traffic flow changes in the next few weeks."Drivers, especially regular commuters, will need to pay special attention to the signs and traffic flow to learn and establish the new patterns.Old habits die hard, and drivers "on auto-pilot" will find previous paths closed, to their dismay," Willis wrote.

"The 511 system is more user friendly than the old 800 number," said Lissa Willis-Stokes, community relations representative for Oregon Department of Transportation.

"We're focusing our efforts so that smaller firms, Oregon firms, have a chance to successfully bid on the projects," said Lissa Willis, public affairs representative for ODOT.
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Spurring local economic development is now at the base of all ODOT's projects, Willis said.The Oregon Legislature has also committed to that.Since 2001, it has passed the Oregon Transportation Investment Acts to improve highway facilities while also generating jobs and creating work.

Willis said it's understood that "every project happens in a local, community context."ODOT, she said, aims to support those communities while these projects invade them.

Lissa WillisPublic Affairs SpecialistOregon Department of Transportation (503) 986-3985lissa.willis@odot.state.or.us