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The contractor leading the approximately $700 million Interstate 205-Abernethy Bridge project had a history of subpar evaluations before a 鈥渘ear fatality鈥� incident in which a work vehicle backed over a worker, according to Oregon Department of Transportation documents.

Construction giant Kiewit scored negative marks on four consecutive annual ODOT evaluations dating to the beginning of work in 2022-23. Its most recent score for work in 2025-26 was its worst yet: a -36. The evaluation uses a baseline of zero.

The annual evaluations, obtained by the 91视频 through a public records request, also give new details on a series of safety incidents that have plagued the project. On Feb. 4, a work vehicle backed over a worker, resulting in a 鈥渘ear fatality,鈥� according to the May 2026 evaluation. The victim endured a lengthy hospitalization, ODOT program manager Vidal Francis said at a June public meeting.

Additionally, an excavator bucket struck an employee on April 23. And a Kiewit employee piloting a skiff hit a pile and fell into the Willamette River, requiring rescue. No date was given for the boating incident, and details of injuries in the incidents were not available.

鈥淪afety is fundamental to how we operate,鈥� Kiewit spokeswoman Teresa Shada stated in an email. 鈥淲e investigate and review incidents, injuries and near misses because every event presents an opportunity to learn, strengthen our operations and, where necessary, make changes to help prevent similar events in the future. We take every incident seriously and remain committed to protecting our employees, subcontractors, project partners and members of the public.鈥�

The 2026 evaluation is not final; Kiewit has an opportunity to meet with the state construction administrator. Also, the 2025 evaluation was 鈥渨as not formally submitted by (ODOT)鈥� for 鈥渁dministrative reasons,鈥� according to an ODOT records official.

鈥淭he Abernethy Bridge project is a technically complex infrastructure project that has required ODOT to direct significant scope changes throughout construction, resulting in a substantial number of change orders,鈥� Shada stated. 鈥淲hile the ODOT project evaluations are one input into project performance and the scoring is currently under appeal, we continue working collaboratively with ODOT to address challenges and safely deliver this important project.鈥�

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has an open inspection regarding the Feb. 4 incident and cannot release further details at this time, OSHA spokesman Aaron Corvin stated in an email on Thursday.

The project’s contractor is Kiewit Infrastructure West, a subsidiary of Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit Corp. It’s one of the nation’s largest contractors.

Kiewit has faced scrutiny elsewhere. The contractor was recently dropped from the multibillion-dollar project to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after it was struck by a tanker and collapsed in March 2024. Kiewit’s bid came in at least $20 million higher than competitors’, the .

In Oregon, the Abernethy Bridge upgrade is the largest ODOT-led project in decades. The bridge between Oregon City and West Linn is being buttressed and widened. Massive supports are being built under the bridge, which is being widened to accommodate additional traffic. When completed, the bridge will be expected to survive a major earthquake.

鈥淭his project is complex and the contractor has faced challenges since construction began in 2022,鈥� ODOT spokesman David House stated in an email. 鈥淭he ODOT聽team聽and contractor are聽doing our best to manage schedule and cost risks.鈥�

Several challenges lie ahead for the project that could increase costs and delay completion, which is now scheduled for winter 2027, House added.

Kiewit Infrastructure West was chosen in May 2022 to lead the project after competitive bidding. Construction began in June of that year.

Kiewit initially earned a -8 score on ODOT’s evaluation for 2022-23. That was followed by a -31 score for 2023-24, a -21 for 2024-25 and a -36 for 2025-26. On ODOT’s scale 鈥� developed in collaboration with the Associated General Contractors more than a decade ago 鈥� -50 is the worst score possible.

It is unusual for contractors to score below the top performance level, called Performance Level 1, for multiple consecutive years, House stated.

鈥淭he majority of ODOT contractors perform in the Performance Level 1 category for all of the different categories that they are rated on,鈥� House stated.聽鈥淭here are however some contractors that do fall below the Performance Level 1 category, and we have discussions with the contractor if they are below the Performance Level 1 category.鈥�

In the most recent evaluation, Kiewit earned the worst possible score in the category of 鈥渜uality of materials and workmanship.鈥� The score rubric states: 鈥渃ritical material certifications were not provided and work was suspended and/or workmanship was poor enough that remove and reinstall was required.鈥�

In written comments, the evaluation, which was signed by ODOT project manager Ian Cannon, noted 鈥渕ajor structural/civil workmanship issues,鈥� including work that required concrete repairs, and stainless-steel bolt galling and overtorque in the main span. Also, the contractor did not install waterline-specific coating or use waterline contamination plugs as directed.

Kiewit also got dinged for nonpayment of subcontractors. The ODOT reviewer commented, 鈥淐ontractor holding subcontractor payments 鈥� No letter or explanation provided to ODOT for 17 subcontractors being paid late.鈥�

ODOT also noted several environmental violations, including tree and brush removal during a bird nesting window and no notice of a bird survey, totaling 鈥渟erious nonconformance to permits and specifications.鈥� The agency also noted discharge into the river.

The evaluation score leads to mandatory meetings with ODOT staff and a corrective plan.

ODOT in June deemed the project about 78 percent complete. Kiewit’s evaluation score calls for mandatory meetings with agency staff and a corrective plan.