Politics

Multnomah County officials are asking the public to weigh in on numerous potential bridge designs for the $895 million replacement project.

One of Portland’s iconic bridges needs to be torn down and replaced — and project managers want the public’s input on what the new crossing should look like.

The Burnside Bridge was built in 1926 and spans the Willamette River in central Portland. Multnomah County will close the bridge in 2027 and replace it with one that is far more structurally resilient. The current bridge — along with most other Portland bridges — is expected to collapse in the event of a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The bridge’s base is supported by tree trunks, while its replacement will include concrete, steel-reinforced columns.

The county has landed on six different potential designs for the replacement bridge, but it wants the public’s help in making the final decision.

“We want to ensure that we build a bridge that the community will be proud of,” said Megan Neill, a project manager for Multnomah County’s bridge project. “This is a big moment. Probably the most important time in the project to weigh in.”

The ask comes before the county has secured all the funding needed to cover the project.

About a third of the estimated $895 million construction project has already come from vehicle registration fees, and the state and federal government have promised some financial support. Neill said the county is waiting to hear if the federal government will approve additional grant dollars to help pay for the project. The county also plans on asking the state Legislature for more money next year.

While funding is not guaranteed, the county is moving ahead with the design process.

Three of the proposed designs are variations on what’s called a tied arch bridge, which has two distinct parallel arches similar to Portland’s Fremont Bridge. The other three proposals are different types of a cable stay bridge, which is made up of two vertical towers that connect to the bridge base with cable lines, similar to Portland’s Tilikum Crossing bridge.

Neill said there is little difference between the six options, aside from their aesthetics.

“We have evaluated all options in regards to their cost, their schedule, their constructability, risk to the traveling public, and its impact on adjacent businesses,” she said. “And they’re all neutral.”

Multnomah County has created a website with interactive graphics of the bridge design for the public to review before participating in a survey about the best design. The survey will close on July 31.

Multnomah County commissioners are expected to vote on the final bridge design in October.

Construction on the heavily used bridge is anticipated to last at least five years, due to environmental regulations and the complexity of the bridge’s central location. The county will focus on creating car, pedestrian and bicycle detours in 2026 before closing the bridge completely in 2027.