February 21, 2020

Members of the public are invited to attend the next meeting of the Community Task Force for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project on Monday, February 24 from 6 - 8 pm at Mercy Corps, 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland. The meeting will be in the Aceh Room.

The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project is studying three build options that would create a resilient lifeline crossing over the Willamette River in the event of a major earthquake. The task force will provide input on the environmental review and recommend a preferred alternative in summer 2020.

Meeting agenda items include:

  • Project update
  • Establish weightings for evaluation criteria topics based on short-term (construction phase) and long-term (post-construction) impacts. The weightings will be used to compare alternatives.
  • Public comment

In late 2019 Multnomah County’s Board of Commissioners voted to advance three build alternatives for further study: an enhanced seismic retrofit of the existing bridge and two bridge replacement alternatives. All would include a drawbridge. The preferred alternative will also include a recommendation on whether or not to construct a temporary detour bridge to use during the construction phase.

Task force members represent residential areas, business districts, and interests including auto commuters, transit users, freight, pedestrians, bicyclists, bridge history, social service agencies, and other organizations based near the bridge.

There are several transit options near the meeting location, including the TriMet Skidmore Fountain Max Station and buses #12, 19, and 20 Stop ID: 9526, 689. Limited on-street parking is also available.

For more information, visit www.burnsidebridge.org. Meeting materials will be posted to the website. Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and leads the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project.