In Portland, Multnomah County has announced its team for the $895 million Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge endeavor, aiming to replace the near 100-year-old vital emergency passage over the Willamette River.
Burnside Bridge Partners JV, a collective comprising Stacy and Witbeck from Alameda, California; Traylor Bros. from Evansville, Indiana; and American Bridge from Pittsburgh, has been entrusted as the chief builders.
In the realm of design, the county has appointed the Omaha, Nebraska-origin engineering firm, HDR, to helm the conclusive design elements, a disclosure made by the designer on Oct. 17.
The forthcoming 2,200-foot structure will possess a flexible bascule section to facilitate unobstructed river movement below. It’s envisioned to have four driving lanes, an integrated bike lane and walkway, and will be tailored to support potential Portland Streetcar demands.
Nevertheless, the initiative isn’t without its challenges. The new structure will have to navigate over nine interstate routes, a couple of railway tracks, two urban rail lines, and various local facilities.
HDR highlighted the bridge’s distinct status as Multnomah County’s sole non-freeway riverine crossing earmarked for emergencies. Given the importance, the design will emphasize robust earthquake resilience, ensuring functionality amidst and post a Magnitude 8+ seismic event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Both Burnside Bridge Partners and HDR will collaborate, adopting the construction manager/general contractor framework.
With the design phase in progress, the county envisions launching the demolition and build-out by mid-2026 and hopes for the bridge’s inauguration by spring 2031, as per an official spokesperson.
