Design Alternatives Revealed for Portland's Burnside Bridge Replacement

Multnomah County is planning to spend $825 million to replace the Burnside Bridge, which engineers say is unlikely to withstand the force of a large eathquake.

2 minute read

August 6, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Multnomah County, Oregon is planning and designing a new "earthquake ready" bridge that will span the Willamette River between the east and west of Portland. 

Here's how an article by Andrew Theen summarizes the new Burnside Bridge:

County officials released conceptual designs late Monday for the proposed $825 million Burnside Bridge replacement. Whatever is built, it won’t be a flat structure like the existing bridge, so officials are interested in hearing what people think of the potential options. The replacement bridge will include a support structure above the bridge – like a tower – to make it more seismically sound and allow for fewer support columns in unstable soil.

According to Theen, all of the remaining design concepts for the bridge "resemble an amalgam of some of the city’s other iconic river crossings." 

In a separate article, Jonathan Maus offers an initial look at the bike infrastructure planned for the new bridge, offering this summary of what people on bikes should expect of the new bridge:

Currently the bridge offers only minimal physical separation from other users via small plastic wands. The new bridge would have a much more substantial buffer. And as it stands today, the bridge has no visual obstructions while the new bridge would block views of downtown and the eastside.

"Timing-wise, this project is still in its environmental review phase and the County plans to release a draft Environmental Impact Statement for public review early next year. If all goes according to plan construction would begin in 2024," adds Maus. 

According to Theen, the county is expected to settle on a chosen design next year.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020 in The Oregonian

Aerial view of snowy single-family homes in suburban Long Island, New York

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition

Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

March 20, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Large historic homes and white picket fences line a street.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

March 23, 2023 - The Washington Post

Dilapidated vacant wood slat house painted white in Louisiana

The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America

While housing shortages in major cities are grabbing headlines, rural communities are seeing higher rates of growth in housing prices and a silently spreading homelessness crisis.

March 20, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

Aerial view of desalination plant in Carlsbad, California

Federal Loan to Support San Diego Desalination Plant Overhaul

The financing will go toward funding an updated cooling system and ensuring the protection of local marine life.

March 28 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Buses in downtown Seattle on the dedicated 3rd Avenue bus lanes

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations

An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

March 28 - Axios

People walking on the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain

The Joy of Walking

An essay meditating on the simple pleasures of a good walk.

March 28 - The New York Times

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.