Time is ticking for Portland residents who want to leave their mark on city infrastructure. Multnomah County is reminding folks that its online survey, gauging public opinion on the design of the new Burnside Bridge, is in its final hours. Those looking to make their voices heard have until midnight on Wednesday, July 31, to cast their votes.
With nearly 20,000 responses collected so far, the county is hopeful for broad community engagement. Participating in the decision-making process isn't just a click on a checkbox, before casting their vote, members of the public can immerse themselves in the project via interactive graphics and 3D video simulations of the bridge, as reported by Multnomah County. The existing Burnside Bridge is nearly hitting its centennial mark, and officials are longing for a replacement emblematic of the community's values and aspirations, viewed through the virtual experiences, allowing them a stroll across the new bridge even before it's built.
To understand the historical gravity of the undertaking, it's essential to grasp the context. As it stands, a significant seismic event, like the feared Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake, would leave none of Portland's downtown river crossings for vehicles serviceable. The county's initiative is a pioneering stride toward seismic resilience in Oregon, intending to construct a bridge robust enough to handle the big one's tremors.
To learn more or to participate in the survey, visit Multnomah County’s website.
