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The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project has received a $5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant.  It’s the first successful funding award for the project. Multnomah County applied for the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in April.

U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeffrey Merkley and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici submitted a joint letter of support for the project.

The Burnside Bridge replacement project is expected to cost $895 million. The $5 million grant will “go towards advancing the design phase,” project manager Megan Neill stated in a press release.

Multnomah County has identified $300 million to contribute through its vehicle registration fee. Other funding opportunities are being sought to fill a $500 million-$600 million funding gap for construction. The county earlier this year applied for two large federal grants; it’s expected to receive responses in the fall and winter, respectively.

Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and leads the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project. The environmental review phase is on track to wrap up late this year. Design work will begin in spring 2023 and construction could begin as early as 2025, pending funding.