The Community Task Force for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project will hold a virtual online meeting on Monday, September 13 from 6 - 8 pm focused on cost saving measures that are being studied. The meeting will also include updates on the project’s schedule and work plan, and an update on bridge type selection.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the meeting is being held online and will be live streamed at https://hdrinc.rev.vbrick.com/#/events/b1dd24dd-807e-49c3-97d1-ac287d098250. The public can submit comments to be shared at the meeting. To submit a comment, email it to burnsidebridge@multco.us by noon on September 13. 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 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 that a new Long Span bridge with a movable span be built.
At the meeting, project team members will describe the status of cost saving measures that have been studied this summer. Multnomah County is working to reduce the project’s cost so that it is more likely to be funded and built. In October the project team will brief the task force on the remaining cost saving study results and seek concurrence on which cost saving measures to adopt. Meanwhile, Multnomah County is working to secure project funds from external sources.
Task force members represent residential areas, business districts, and interests including auto commuters, transit users, freight, pedestrians, bicyclists, 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 next summer. Design work will begin in 2022 and construction could start in 2025, pending funding. For information or to sign up for email notifications, visit www.burnsidebridge.org.