County, City and TriMet leaders tour Hawthorne, Burnside bridges

As the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project enters the Design Phase, County, City of Portland and TriMet leaders are getting a firsthand look at bridges maintained by Multnomah County.

As the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project enters the Design Phase, County, City of Portland and TriMet leaders are getting a firsthand look at bridges maintained by Multnomah County. On Monday, Sept. 18, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams, TriMet General Manager Sam Descue, Jr. and staff toured the Hawthorne and Burnside bridges.

A group of eight people in safety vests posed for the camera on top of a bridge, with mechanical structures, the river and the city skyline in the background.

Pictured from left: Transportation Division Director/County Engineer Jon Henrichsen, Strategic Initiatives Manager Taylor Steenblock, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams, Policy Advisor Hayden Miller, Community Services Director Margi Bradway, Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps, TriMet General Manager Sam Descue, Jr.

The group rode to the top of the Hawthorne Bridge which dates back to 1910. They learned about how the mechanics and engineering work on the oldest vertical lift bridge in the United States.

Four people in safety vests pose for the camera in an elevated location, with mechanical bridge elements and the city skyline in the background.

Pictured from left: Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams, Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps, TriMet General Manager Sam Descue, Jr.

A photo from an elevated location looking down on the city skyline, with one of the Hawthorn Bridge lift towers in the foreground.

View from top of Hawthorne Bridge looking west toward downtown Portland and the new Multnomah County Courthouse.

Bridge Operations Coordinator Aysha Ghazoul talked to the group about her duties in the operator tower and the steps she has to take to lift the bridge for a vessel.

A group of people in safety vests gather in a bridge control room, giving their attention to a bridge operator who is pointing at something off-camera.

Group talking with Bridge Operations Coordinator Aysha Ghazoul in Hawthorne Bridge operator tower.

The group also toured the Burnside Bridge. Built in 1926, the Burnside Bridge is located on one of the longest and busiest streets in the Portland-metro area. Connecting two sides of the city, the Burnside serves as a critical lifeline route for emergency response. The group learned about the earthquake risks in the Pacific Northwest and the importance of building at least one downtown bridge that’s immediately usable after a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

They went down beneath the Burnside Bridge deck and learned how the two 1900 ton concrete counterweights work to lift the bridge.

A group of people in safety vests standing on a catwalk under a bridge, looking down into a large open space with a giant concrete structure on one side.

Pictured left: 1900 ton counterweight beneath the Burnside Bridge

A view looking up from beneath a bridge as the two lift spans open up, with a bright blue sky above.

Then the group watched the bridge lift from beneath the deck.

The tour provided a valuable opportunity for leaders to see the inner workings of County bridges, strengthen the partnership between the County Transportation Division and PBOT, and collaborate productively as the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge enters its next phase.

Last reviewed October 20, 2023

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