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Multnomah County has approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Morrison Bridge Strengthening Project. Replacement/repair solutions are to be designed and constructed for several bridge components.

The work includes replacement of the bridge’s motors and brakes, county engineering services manager Emily Miletich reported during a meeting of the board of commissioners last month. The motors and brakes are over 50 years old and malfunctioning, causing disruption to public travelers and river users, the staff report states. In addition, several of the concrete beams supporting the bridge deck on the east approaches need to be rehabilitated to avoid institution of a weight limit for vehicles crossing the bridge.

The project will improve the movable spans’ reliability, which will reduce traffic backups in the area during bridge lifts.

The project team will coordinate closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to minimize impacts to river traffic, and with the city of Portland and TriMet to reduce impacts to travelers. The team will also coordinate with ODOT and conduct extensive public outreach regarding nighttime Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 lane closures that will be required to complete some of the work.

鈥淭his project is funded primarily by the Federal Highway Administration, which distributes funds to ODOT for local agency projects,鈥� Miletich said.

ODOT, administrator of those federal dollars, is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements. About $8 million of the project cost 鈥� slightly more than $9 million 鈥� will be covered by federal funding. The rest will be covered by the county.

鈥淎 portion of those county costs 鈥� about $1 million 鈥� has been included in the (Fiscal Year 2023) bridge fund budget,鈥� Miletich said.

Anything outstanding will be proposed for coverage in the Fiscal Year 2024 and the Fiscal Year 2025 bridge fund budget.

The design phase, including procurement of a design consultant, is expected to take about 18 months, Miletich said. Construction would likely begin in summer 2024 and finish in about a year.