The Community Task Force for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project will hold a virtual online meeting on Monday, January 24 from 6 - 8 pm focused on cost-saving measures and recommendations for bridge structure types. The meeting will include a vote on three measures that could reduce the project cost by $185 – $240 million.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the meeting is being held online and will be live streamed at https://hdrinc.rev.vbrick.com/#/webcasts/burnsidebridge. The public can submit comments to be shared at the meeting. To submit a comment, email it to burnsidebridge@multco.us by noon on Monday, January 24. A recording of the meeting will be posted to the project website the week after the meeting. Meeting materials are available on the project website.
The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project is in the environmental review phase. The project’s purpose is to create the first resilient lifeline crossing over the Willamette River in the central city that can be used after a major earthquake. The task force has recommended a preferred alternative that includes a new Long Span bridge with a movable span.
The meeting will include a briefing on public input gathered last fall about three cost-saving refinements to the project’s preferred alternative:
- Narrowing the bridge width to roughly the width of the existing bridge (reducing one traffic lane and narrowing the shared space for bicyclists and pedestrians). The space for bicyclists and pedestrians would be wider than the existing bridge but less than what was originally proposed for the new bridge. Cost savings range: $140 - $165 million.
- Selecting a girder structure for the west approach instead of an arch or cable supported span. Cost savings range: $20 - $40 million.
- Selecting a bascule drawbridge similar to the existing bridge, instead of a vertical lift drawbridge. Cost savings range: $25 - $35 million.
More than 1500 people provided input on the cost-saving recommendations through an online open house last fall. The task force’s recommendations will be considered and voted on by the project’s Policy Group of elected and appointed leaders on March 3 and by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on March 10.
Multnomah County is working to reduce the project’s cost so that it is more likely to be funded and built. Without the cost-saving measures, the project’s cost is in the $1 billion range, due in part to pandemic-related cost increases for labor and materials.
Task force members represent residential areas, business districts, and interests including pedestrians, bicyclists, auto commuters, transit users, freight, river users, 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. The environmental review phase will be completed late this year. Design work will begin this fall and construction could start in 2025, pending funding. For information or to sign up for email notifications, visit www.burnsidebridge.org.