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A Multnomah County policy group on Thursday endorsed plans to narrow the Burnside Bridge replacement in a bid to limit costs to $895 million.

The revised design would reduce vehicle lanes from five to four. Bicyclist and pedestrian space would be reduced from 20 feet of the bridge’s width in an earlier design to 14 feet to 17 feet. The changes would save $125 million to $215 million, county officials estimated.

Community advisors said they preferred a wider bridge with more amenities but would accept a scaled-down design if it’s necessary to advance the project.

鈥淚f the choice is between having a smaller bridge and having no bridge, of course we would choose a smaller bridge,鈥� said Jackie Tate, a member of the Community Task Force advising the county.

The refined design would have slightly more space for bicyclists and pedestrians than the existing bridge, but less for motor vehicles. There would be a bus-only lane, as on the current bridge.

The revised design could impact commuters, task force member Susan Lindsay said.

鈥淭he reduction of the actual width was a concern to all of us,鈥� said Lindsay, who represents the Buckman Community Association.

The policy group includes local, state and federal elected officials. All who spoke at Thursday’s meeting endorsed the revised design.

Multnomah County is pushing to replace the iconic bridge because it’s believed to be at risk of collapse in a strong earthquake.

The project comes as other mega-projects in the region move toward construction, most notably the $1.2 billion Interstate 5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project and the $4.5 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. The projects come as supply chain clogs and economic shocks lend uncertainty to pricing forecasts. The project teams could also end up competing for limited materials and labor.

Megan Neill, a county spokeswoman, said the county had given its finance officials an $895 million project budget from 鈥渟oup to nuts,鈥� including design and construction.

鈥淚t was very challenging to arrive at this number given all the fluctuations in materials and labor,鈥� she said.

In January, the task force recommended a bascule movable span and a girder structure for the west approach, saving $45 million to $75 million.

The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project would be funded by a mix of federal, state and local funds.

To pay for a portion of the project, county officials are considering pursuit of multiple federal grants, including via the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Infrastructure Project Assistance or 鈥渕egaprojects鈥� program and the Bridge Investment Program. All are part of the 2021 federal infrastructure bill.

From the state, the county could garner funds from the Oregon Department of Transportation‘s local agency bridge program, Neill said.

Locally, the project would leverage approximately $300 million in revenue from vehicle license fees. There’s also the possibility of a 2024 regional transportation ballot measure that would follow one rejected by voters in November 2020.

The Burnside Bridge replacement project faces a major shortfall until those funds are secured. The county, Neill said, is 鈥渟till looking for about $500 million to $600 million on this project, so we’ll always be fundraising.鈥�

The county is working on procurement documents for a construction manager/general contractor, Neill said.

A supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement will be published in late April or early May for public input, county spokesman Mike Pullen stated. The Environmental Impact Statement remains on track and is anticipated to be ready in December. HDR is consulting on the project.

The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to take up the revised design on March 17.