Just as families and neighborhoods need to be prepared for an emergency, Multnomah County is doing its part to help our community withstand and recover from a major earthquake. The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project is underway, studying a variety of river crossing ideas. The project will identify the best options for creating an earthquake-resilient Burnside river crossing that will serve our region for generations.
The Burnside crossing was selected for a major seismic upgrade because it is part of an east/west lifeline route that the region will depend on when a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake strikes.
After launching the project in 2016, the County is seeking community-wide participation this summer to gather public input on alternatives and key issues. The current study will identify options to be studied in greater detail in a future environmental impact statement. The best alternatives will reflect shared values and serve the needs of us all. The public is invited to:
- Watch a video to learn more about the study. Another video simulates what would happen to the Burnside Bridge if a major earthquake struck today.
- Tell us what you think by taking a short project survey
- Visit the website to learn more about the study and other ways to get involved
- Sign up for project email updates or request a briefing for your organization or group
- Learn about what you can do to be prepared for an emergency
- Follow us on Twitter @MultCoBridges, #ReadyBurnside and Facebook
- Share information with others who will want to know about the project.
This fall, the project team will share the results of preliminary screening of earthquake-ready river crossing options and seek public feedback. The study is anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2018.
Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and five other Willamette River bridges. For more information, visit www.burnsidebridge.org.
