91视频

An advisory committee has recommended Multnomah County adopt an inverted-Y design for the Burnside Bridge replacement.

The Y-shaped tower would be built on the bridge鈥檚 east end and visually split the Yard and 5 MLK buildings for eastbound bridge users. The inverted-Y is a common type of cable-stay bridge that uses a single tower to provide structural stability and seismic resilience.

The county鈥檚 Community Design Advisory Group recommended the inverted-Y design at its Aug. 15 meeting. The Board of County Commissioners will make the final decision on the bridge鈥檚 design. The board is scheduled to hear a presentation on the advisory group鈥檚 recommendation on Sept. 3, followed by a vote on Sept. 12.

The advisory group felt that the inverted-Y design fits best within the site and urban context of the eastside, county spokeswoman Sarah Hurwitz stated on Monday. It provides the best views and will provide a 鈥渄istinctive and unique structure for Portland,鈥� she stated.

In the event of a major earthquake, the inverted-Y shaped tower 鈥渨ill be a beacon of recovery and hope for the future of the city,鈥� Hurwitz stated.

鈥淧eople will be able to see it from a distance and know the bridge is standing strong and resilient,鈥� she added.

The project remains early in the design phase, with many unanswered questions. The county anticipates meeting a 30 percent bridge design milestone in October.

Separately on Monday, the city鈥檚 Historic Landmarks Commission took up a recommendation to demolish the existing bridge 鈥� a Portland icon that was completed in 1926 and listed as a historic landmark in 2012.

Commissioners wrestled with the idea of recommending the historic bridge be demolished 鈥� a fait accompli to build the new bridge at the same location.

鈥淚鈥檝e accepted as a foregone conclusion that the Burnside Bridge will be demolished,鈥� said Chairman Andrew Smith, an architect.

The county has proposed a series of mitigation steps to preserve the memory of the bridge, including videos that document the bridge lifting and closing, a large-scale model to be built with durable materials and a detailed LIDAR map. Mitigation of a historic landmark鈥檚 demolition is required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

Smith and other commissioners urged county officials to find additional ways to mitigate the bridge鈥檚 loss beyond documenting the span before its demolition.

鈥淒ocumentation is sort of the table stakes for mitigation of a project,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲hat is commensurate mitigation for what is the huge loss of this bridge?鈥�

City and county officials and advisory groups have discussed ideas such as saving the bridge鈥檚 large bascule pieces or putting a tower from the existing bridge at the waterfront as a wayfinding piece. Any potential mitigation strategy will require the City Council鈥檚 approval.

The Historic Landmarks Commission also delved into the bridge鈥檚 traffic plan. Commissioner Peggy Moretti expressed concern that current plans call for only one eastbound lane of commuter vehicle traffic. Another lane will be dedicated to buses.

鈥淚鈥檝e got to say, I think there鈥檚 just some common sense missing here,鈥� she said.

Project Manager Megan Neill said the county will monitor traffic on the bridge after construction and adjust if needed.

鈥淭his was the allocation that aligned with city goals and policies,鈥� she said.

The commission will make a recommendation regarding bridge demolition to the City Council. The commission will also consider a separate, Type III historic resource review next year.

A new cost estimate is also expected in spring 2025, Neill said. Currently, the bridge replacement project is estimated to cost $895 million.