In the past decade the Oregon Department of Transportation seismic design for bridges has undergone extensive growing pains in order to bring our designs up to current standards.

The turning point for us was the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. The high visibility of the event sent a media shockwave through Oregon, with the question being asked, "Could that happen here?" Not only was the answer "YES," but soil samples indicated that there have been periodic events of major proportion in Oregon's past.

We started a systematic approach to upgrading our system for seismic risk. This approach included a design specification change, development of an Oregon specific bedrock acceleration map, training for designers, lifeline route analysis, and a seismic retrofit prioritization.

We still have a long way to go in order to feel comfortable with the condition of our bridge inventory but have implemented a strategy to get there.

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