Multnomah County is seeking a $447 million Bridge Investment Program grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to help pay for construction of the Burnside Bridge replacement.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the grant proposal on Thursday. The proposal is due by Aug. 1.

If the county were to receive the grant, funds would need to be obligated by Sept. 30, 2029, and used by Sept. 30, 2034. The money would be allocated by USDOT from Fiscal Year 2028 through 2033.

A 50 percent match is required for the grant, which would consist of $421 million in bonding secured by the county’s vehicle registration fee, $20 million from the state via HB 5030 (passed during the 2023 legislative session) and $7 million from other federal sources (a $5 million RAISE planning grant and a $2 million congressional appropriation).

According to the project’s website, the budget is not to exceed $895 million.

Large bridge projects with total eligible costs greater than $100 million are candidates for Bridge Investment Program grants, a county staff report states. Approximately $2.45 billion is available in Fiscal Year 2026 and will be awarded on a competitive basis for bridge replacement, rehabilitation and preservation projects.

Megan Neill, engineering services manager for Multnomah County, said the grant would go a long way toward funding project construction. The money would be used to pay contractors.

The effort to replace the Burnside Bridge began in 2016. The environmental review phase was completed in January 2024, and the design phase began in September 2023. If the team were to secure full funding, construction could begin as early as 2028.

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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.

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