The Willamette River Remains Open During I-205 Construction

River users on the Willamette River.

A man paddles his red kayak down the river.

With Earth Day just around the corner and the days becoming warmer and sunnier, it seems only fitting to focus on the Willamette River that passes under the first phase’s signature project—a widened and seismically upgraded Abernethy Bridge.  

The Willamette River is an incredibly important resource for Oregonians. It is used to transport goods through the Willamette Valley and beyond, is home to over 40 species of fish, and offers a variety of recreation options region-wide. By volume, the Willamette River is the largest river wholly within the state of Oregon and is the 13th largest in the country. Willamette Falls – just over a mile upstream from the Abernethy Bridge – is the second largest waterfall by volume in the United States; only Niagara Falls is bigger.  

The area from just below Willamette Falls to the Columbia River is known as the Lower Willamette River Area. While this section of the river is shared with barges, tugboats, and other commercial vessels, it is generally used for recreational purposes, such as fishing, sailing, and paddleboarding. This area is also renowned for excellent salmon and steelhead fishing, which is an amazing characteristic given its proximity to a major city.  

With so many Willamette enthusiasts, it is no wonder we have received many concerned inquiries about whether or not construction on the Abernethy Bridge impacts the fishing season or interferes with river access. As we head into spring 2023, rest assured that construction as part of the I-205 Improvements Project is not impacting the fishing season, and river access is unaffected.  

Although construction does not limit river access, river users must exercise caution near the Abernethy Bridge, where construction is ongoing. This area features temporary work bridges, and barges are anchored in the river to support construction. For the safety of everyone, river users should travel slowly to avoid creating a wake, stay at least 200 feet from the barges, and travel between the green and red buoys. None of these rules prevent boaters from traveling to and through the construction zone, and the Willamette River remains open for commercial traffic and recreational users of all kinds. 

Please sign up for text messages and email alerts to stay informed of road closures, detours and other impacts, or visit TripCheck. You can also follow ODOT's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on the I-205 Improvements Project.