Multnomah County has received $10 million from Oregon Metro for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project. The funding comes from the 2028–30 regional flexible funding allocation cycle, totaling nearly $250 million and approved by the Metro Council last Thursday. The allocation is aimed at improving access to transit, including upgrades for buses, pedestrians, cyclists, and Americans with Disability Act accessibility, according to the Multnomah County.
Multnomah County is moving forward with plans to replace the downtown Portland bridge so it can withstand a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake. Design Phase Project Manager Megan Neill said, “This funding adds to the momentum of this project and gets us one step closer to building the first downtown Portland bridge that will be immediately operable after a major earthquake.” County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said, “Every dollar counts for this project because a new bridge will be the lifeline we need at the exact moment we need it.” So far, $300 million from local vehicle registration fees has been committed toward the $895 million project goal, as reported by the Multnomah County.
Multnomah County secured $20 million through House Bill 5030 in August 2023 and a $5 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity Planning Grant the year before. Last Thursday, officials applied for $447 million from the USDOT Bridge Investment Program to fund the next phase of the project. The county plans to work with architects, engineers, and other partners during the Design Phase to complete specifications for a new bridge designed to withstand a major seismic event, as stated by the Multnomah County.
