Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge

We are taking the lead to provide our community with the first bridge in downtown Portland that will be immediately usable after a major earthquake.

a small bin labeled "Write a Love Letter" surrounded by pens and cards

Burnside Bridge Stories

On Saturday, May 30, the Burnside Bridge transformed into a massive celebration for its 100th birthday. During the celebration, there was a dedicated section of the bridge inviting folks to share their Burnside Bridge stories. Click to watch, listen and read the stories and birthday messages.

About the Project

Right now, none of downtown Portland’s Willamette River vehicular bridges will be immediately usable after a major earthquake. Multnomah County is leading an effort to replace the current Burnside Bridge with one that can withstand a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake. It’s one of the largest earthquake resilience projects in Oregon.

The Burnside Bridge is located on a regionally established lifeline route and it's critical that the bridge is still standing after a major earthquake. A new Burnside Bridge will provide a critical lifeline route for first responders to get to those who need help after a major earthquake. It will be our beacon for safety, emergency response and recovery. It will also provide safer, more accessible multimodal transportation facilities in the heart of Portland, serving our community for the next 100 years.