June 10, 2020

The Community Task Force for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project will hold a virtual online meeting on Monday, June 15 from 6 - 9 pm to recommend a preferred alternative from a field of four build alternatives.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the meeting is being held online and will be live streamed at: https://bit.ly/BurnsideCTF16. The public can submit comments to be shared at the meeting. To submit a comment, email it to burnsidebridge@multco.us by noon on June 15. A recording of the meeting will be posted to the project website Library the week after the meeting. Meeting materials are available on the project website.

The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project is studying a no-build (or ‘do nothing’) alternative and four build alternatives that would create a resilient lifeline crossing over the Willamette River in the event of a major earthquake. The task force has met 15 times to provide input on the environmental review. They are expected to discuss and recommend a preferred alternative at the June 15 meeting.

Meeting agenda items include:

  • Public comment
  • Project process review
  • Recommend a preferred bridge alternative and traffic option during construction
  • Review next steps, including public outreach and the bridge type selection phase

The alternatives being studied include:

  • A no-build or ‘do nothing’ alternative
  • An enhanced seismic retrofit of the existing bridge
  • A replacement movable bridge on the same alignment with short spans
  • A replacement movable bridge on the same alignment with long spans
  • A replacement movable bridge with an extension of NE Couch Street

The preferred alternative will also include a recommendation on whether or not to construct a temporary detour bridge to use during construction.

Following the task force’s recommendation, the project team will go to the public in August with an online open house and survey to look for feedback on the recommended preferred alternative. The community is encouraged to stay engaged and share input this summer.

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.

Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and leads the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project. For more information or to sign up for email notifications, visit www.burnsidebridge.org.