Guide to the Bridge Restrictions and Over-dimensional Truck Routing Reference Map

Guide

Portland reviews over-dimensional truck routes and weight-restricted bridges per state and federal guidelines and administrative rule TRN-2.07. A web-based interactive map shows priority routes and bridge restrictions to help plan safe, compliant travel through the city.

Map depicting PBOT Bridges and Priority Truck Routes with a legend. — Guide to the Bridge Restrictions and Over-dimensional Routing Reference interactive map from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). PBOT Bridges with weight/height limit restrictions, priority truck routes, route jurisdiction, over-dimensional permitting.

Over-dimensional Permitting

Transporting an over-dimensional load requires a City of Portland Over-dimensional Permit. Over-dimension or oversize vehicles refer to any vehicles that have dimensions that exceed any of those listed in ORS Chapter 818:

Weight: 10,000 lbs per wheel; 20,000 lbs per axle; 34,000 lbs for a tandem axle; 80,000 lbs gross weight (minimum 4 axles)
Length: 40 feet for single units, 65 feet for combination units
Width: 8 feet 6 inches
Height: 14 feet

Apply online for a Single-use Over-dimensional permit

Bridge Restrictions and Over-dimensional Routing Reference Map

Priority Truck Routes

The City of Portland appreciates the cooperation of the trucking industry in concentrating truck activity to the extent practical on regional truck ways, priority truck streets, major truck streets, as defined in the 2040 Portland Freight Plan.

You are responsible for determining a safe route through the City of Portland and for verifying all bridge heights along your planned route.

Pilot Vehicles

Pilot vehicles may be required to ensure safety during the movement of oversize loads. A pilot vehicle may not tow another vehicle. The pilot vehicle(s) shall be positioned at a distance of 300 feet to 500 feet from the oversize vehicle/load. In areas where traffic congestion is encountered, where traffic is controlled by signals, or where other conditions may require, the spacing shall be reduced as may be required to properly safeguard the traveling public. Pilot vehicles are under direct supervision of the operator of the vehicle to which the permit is issued. Two-way radio communications between the oversize vehicle and the pilot vehicle(s) must be maintained at all times. The City of Portland requires the use of pilot vehicles in accordance with the Oregon Department of Transportation Special Transportation Permit, Attachment 82A and the State Guidelines Document. Please refer to the table below to assist with determining pilot vehicle escort requirements when traveling within City limits:

Dimensions	multi two-lane Regional Truckway, Priority Truck Streets and Major Truck Streets.	All other streets
9’ ft & under in width	none	none
9’-1” and 12’ Ft in width	none	one
12’-1” and 14’ in width	One on two-lane Regional Truckway only	two
Over 14’ Ft in width	As specified by permit	As specified by permit
Loads over 14’6” in height	Minimum one pilot vehicle with height pole	Minimum one pilot vehicle with height pole

Bridge Weight Restrictions

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) owns and maintains 159 bridges throughout the city. To ensure public safety, it is essential to protect these structures from vehicles that exceed their weight capacity.

In compliance with state and federal regulations, PBOT has implemented permit weight restrictions and posted weight limits on several city-owned bridges.

This interactive map provides information on those restrictions to help freight operators, emergency responders, and the general public identify and locate bridges where access is limited based on vehicle weight.

Please note: If your route includes State, County, or privately owned bridges within Portland, you are responsible for obtaining weight restriction information from the appropriate authority.

A list of definitions used in the map is provided below for your reference.

Posted Bridge – A bridge that has reduced capacity to support maximum legal weight of a vehicle (as defined in ORS Chapter 818) and has the maximum weight limit in tons or pounds posted on a sign for public safety. All applicable vehicles configurations exceeding the posted weights are prohibited from crossing the bridge.

Permit Weight Restricted Bridge – A bridge that has limited capacity to support loads or combinations of loads above the maximum legal weight limits in statute, i.e. overweight loads. Such a bridge may or may not be a posted bridge. All overweight vehicles exceeding the weight restricted limit or maximum axle weights will not be granted permission to cross the bridge without a structural analysis. Completion of a structural analysis does not guarantee permit issuance but will help inform its decision. Allow up to 5 business days for City to complete structural analysis when one is necessary.

Prohibited Bridge – A bridge that is identified as prohibited is weight restricted to all overweight vehicles and an over-dimensional permit will not be granted.

Overweight Vehicle – An overweight vehicle is a vehicle that exceeds the legal weight limit of 80,000 pounds gross, 20,000 pounds per single axle or 34,000 pounds per tandem axle as defined in ORS Chapter 818.

Weight Tables – Referenced weight tables refer to the ODOT Permit Weight Tables to be used to determine legal and permittable weights. Vehicles with axle, tandem axle or group axle weights not exceeding the maximum weight allowed using the permit weight table identified under the Load Restriction section for a bridge can be allowed to cross that bridge with a valid City over-dimensional permit.

How To Use This Map By User Type

Bridge information can be filtered by the following three user types:

General Freight Trucks at or Below Legal Weight Limits – General freight refers to all legal and permit loads including COVP, except for emergency vehicles (EVs). Legal loads are vehicles or loads that meet federal and state regulations for weight (80.000 lbs gross), width (8 ft 6 in), height (14 ft 0 in), and length (see ORS 818.080 and TRN-2.07). Vehicles or loads that exceed these legal size and weight limits are referred to as permit loads and an over-dimensional permit is required to move on public streets in the City of Portland. To determine whether a bridge is weight restricted, click on the bridge symbol on the map. Any weight restrictions for legal loads are identified in the Load Restriction Narrative, which may also include weight restrictions for permit and/or EV loads. If a bridge is weight restricted at or below legal loads (posted bridge), the legal load weight restrictions will also be tabulated below the Load Restriction Narrative along with the bridge posting sign(s) at the bottom of the pop-up window.

Sample bridge posting signs depicting weight restrictions. — Sample bridge posting signs and legal load type definitions.

Over-dimensional (OD) Permit Trucks – OD permits refers to vehicles or loads that exceed federal and state regulations for weight (80,000 lbs GVW), width (8 ft 6 in), height (14 ft 0 in), and length (see ORS 818.080 and TRN-2.07) but does not include emergency vehicles (EVs). An over-dimensional permit is required for these loads to move through the City. Click on a bridge symbol on the map to display bridge details. If a bridge is weight restricted for permit loads, it will be described in the Load Restriction Narrative which identifies the axle weight limits along with the limiting ODOT Permit Weight Table (see Weight Table definitions below or visit ODOT’s Online Weight Calculator). Vehicles or loads that do not exceed axle weight limits and the limiting ODOT Permit Weight Table identified in the Load Restriction Narrative (see example) can be permitted to cross with an over-dimensional permit. Any special restrictions identified in the Load Restriction Narrative, such as speed or lane restrictions, shall be included in the terms of the over-dimensional permit and adhered to by the permittee, if one is issued.

A table of bridge load restrictions. — Example: For BR-105 with the Load Restriction Narrative as shown in the screenshot above, an overweight vehicle that qualifies under ODOT Permit Weight Table 3 or 4 can be permitted to cross but an overweight vehicle that qualifies under ODOT Permit Weight Table 5 cannot be permitted to cross.

Weight Table 1 covers all trucks with legal axle weights hauling divisible loads and describes legal axle (20,000 lbs single axle), group axle (34,000 lbs tandem axles) and gross vehicle weights up to 80,000 lbs. Loads covered under this weight table does not require an over-dimensional permit to move through the City.

Weight Table 2 covers trucks with legal axle weights hauling divisible loads between 80,000 pounds and 105,500 pounds (COVP or continuous operation variance permit). These loads must maintain legal axle weights of 20,000 lbs per single axle, 34,000 lbs per tandem axle and a maximum gross vehicle weight of 105,500 lbs. An over-dimensional permit is required for these loads to move through the City.

Weight Table 3 covers trucks with heavy haul / non-legal axle weights hauling a non-divisible load. It covers annual continuous trip permits up to 98,000 lbs GVW and single trip permits are determined based on the number of axles and wheelbase. Axle weights of these loads are limited to 21,500 lbs per single axle and 43,000 lbs per tandem axle. An over-dimensional permit is required for these loads to move through the City.

Weight Table 4 covers trucks with heavy haul / non-legal axle weights hauling a non-divisible load and allows for more weight using a shorter wheelbase than that allowed by Weight Table 3. Axle weights of these loads are limited to 21,500 lbs per single axle and 43,000 lbs per tandem axle. An over-dimensional permit is required for these loads to move through the City.

Weight Table 5 is used for specific vehicle configurations only. An over-dimensional permit is required for these loads to move through the City and permission to cross a City structure will not be considered without a structural analysis.

Emergency Vehicle (EV) Loads – EV loads refers to emergency vehicles or fire trucks (2 or 3 axles), which are not considered legal loads except for use on the interstate highway system (Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act or FAST Act). Due to the FAST Act, City bridges located within one mile of the interstate system are required to be analyzed and posted for EV loads if they are determined to have limited capacity to safely carry those loads. If a bridge is weight restricted for emergency vehicles, the EV weight restrictions are identified in the Load Restriction Narrative as well as the weight restriction table along with the bridge posting sign(s) at the bottom of the pop-up window for a bridge. Emergency vehicles shall comply with all posted weight limits.

Building Moves

For permit information about transporting a structure through the City of Portland, email buildingmoves@portlandoregon.gov.

Keep Portland Moving

Keep Portland Moving coordinates activities in the public right-of-way to lessen the effects of construction and maintenance projects on the traveling public. Please click the link below to access a public facing map of permitted disruptions in the City of Portland public right-of-way. This map represents potential lane reductions and street closures from construction, events or maintenance projects along routes. The map does not represent real-time road closures or emergency road closures. Please visit ODOt's Trip Check tool for real-time traveler information.