West Linn Mayor Rory Bialostosky directed city staff to draft a resolution ending ODOT's exemption from the city's noise ordinance. The move follows residents' reports of 95-decibel nighttime construction noise and $147,000 in foundation damage from the I-205 Abernethy Bridge project.

The resolution could come before the West Linn City Council for a vote Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. If approved, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) could face fines for exceeding the city's noise limits.

The directive followed a contentious work session Tuesday, Sept. 1, where ODOT officials updated the council on the project and heard directly from frustrated neighbors, as the West Linn Tidings reported.

The Abernethy Bridge carries I-205 over the Willamette River between West Linn and Oregon City. Construction to seismically reinforce the bridge and widen the freeway began in 2022. The project was originally scheduled for completion in fall 2026 but has been pushed to between May and December 2027.

95 decibels at midnight

City Councilor Kevin Bonnington said he visited the construction site on multiple nights around 11 p.m. or midnight and measured peak noise at about 95 decibels, with averages between 75 and 85.

Neighbors told the council they endure vibrations from heavy machinery, loud noise until 3 a.m., property damage and a lack of response from ODOT. Residents also said noise and vibration monitoring equipment appeared only in the weeks before the meeting, with no explanation of its purpose.

Resident Rachel Lena Esterline told ODOT her mother's home foundation was assessed at $147,000 in damage. She said a neighbor's damage claim was denied the morning of the Sept. 1 meeting. Neighbors who have filed claims through ODOT have seen them denied.

"We live in an earthquake, so respectfully, you've failed," Esterline said. "Twenty-four hours a day, four years running, the ground under our homes – everything is shaking and moving."

West Linn had previously exempted ODOT from its noise ordinance. Oregon City approved a similar exemption.

Council presses ODOT

ODOT Area Manager Vidal Francis told the council the agency recognizes noise is a significant problem for the community. He said ODOT has taken steps to reduce the impact but called it "an ongoing situation." Francis also said ODOT's major projects team, which initially oversaw the bridge work, has been dismantled because of difficulties delivering projects.

ODOT said all shaft drilling is complete, which should limit vibrations. Neighbors said heavy machinery still shakes their homes.

Council President Mary Baumgardner pressed ODOT on its record, asking why residents were "crying in our council chambers" and whether the agency had done enough to prevent the harm.

$177 million over budget

The project is ODOT's largest construction effort in more than 45 years. OregonLive reported in April that Phase 1A's cost estimate had grown from $495 million to $672 million, roughly $177 million over the original budget. Contractor Kiewit requested until January 2028 to finish, though ODOT said scaling back parts of the work should allow completion by May 2027.

Council members said at the work session that ODOT has mismanaged both the timeline and its relationship with the community. Bialostosky said the city "deserve[s] better from what we've seen so far."

The council's next regular meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Residents can attend to comment before any vote on the noise ordinance resolution.