The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new look for the Burnside Bridge this year, marking a historic milestone as officials prepare to earthquake-proof the structure.
Due to an ongoing uncertainty around the availability of federal funding, Multnomah County will again push back the start of construction for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project.
Announced Monday, the county has yet to choose a new date, despite its previous chosen start in 2028. Instead, the project will reach what is called the “60% design milestone” by next summer.
“The current federal climate is impacting local public agencies nationwide, making it challenging to carry out crucial infrastructure projects without critical funding,” Multnomah County Department of Community Services Director Margi Bradway said in a statement.
The county said it plans to remain construction-ready, meaning working proactively to ensure they can act fast once necessary funds become available. These federal funds are needed to bring family wage jobs to the region and improve seismic resiliency on the bridge.
Projects estimated costs have risen from $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion amid rising labor and material costs, according to a news release. The county said that its project team has spent months thoroughly reviewing the project’s design and construction methods to ensure maximum value for tax payer dollars spent on the project.
“As uncertain as the future appears, if and when things change, our goal is for the County to be as resourceful and prepared as possible to offer a construction-ready project. When the federal government is ready to invest in our region again, we will be prepared to hit the ground running and maximize the benefits that federal funding offers,” Bradway said in a statement.
The project team found about $160 million in cost savings during its review, which will not compromise the bridge’s safety or functionality.
Local, state and federal funds have been secured for the bridge design, recently receiving $10 million in regional funding, to help move the project forward.
One of the largest earthquake resilience project in Oregon, this aims to replace the Burnside Bridge with one that can withstand a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake.
According to the county, none of downtown Portland’s Willamette River vehicular bridges would immediately be usable after a major earthquake.
About 10 years ago, the county identified the project as a top priority in its Willamette River Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, conducting a two-year study of more than 100 options, including tunnels, ferries, double-deck bridges and more. Four bridge alternatives were recommended following the study.
After gaining input from the community and officials, the replacement was chosen as the best option.
The design phase started in late 2023, and of six design options, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution in the fall of 2024 to move forward with the inverted Y-cable-stayed tower design option.
This winter, crews spent several months building a 10-foot diameter test shaft foundation in Tom McCall Waterfront Park to learn how soil composition would interact with the new bridge foundations.
