🌉 Multnomah County Submits $447M Federal Grant Application to Replace Seismically Vulnerable Burnside Bridge

🌉 Multnomah County Submits $447M Federal Grant Application to Replace Seismically Vulnerable Burnside Bridge

Portland, OR | August 1, 2025 — Multnomah County has formally applied for a $447 million federal grantto support the construction phase of the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project, a critical infrastructure upgrade set to replace Portland’s current Burnside Bridge over the Willamette River Multnomah County+11KATU+11Finance & Commerce+11.

🔍 Why It Matters

The nearly century-old Burnside Bridge—built in 1926—has been labeled functionally obsolete and is not expected to withstand a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake Daily Journal of Commerce+5Multnomah County+5Axios+5. In response, Multnomah County has pursued a complete replacement rather than retrofit, investing in seismic resilience, multimodal access, and long-term emergency preparedness Multnomah Countyopb.

In September 2024, county commissioners selected an “inverted‑Y” cable-stay design, projected to cost around $895 million. Construction was originally scheduled to begin in 2027 but has been postponed to 2028 to allow more time for grant applications and cost optimizations opb+1Finance & Commerce+1.

💵 Funding Strategy & Local Commitment

The current grant request is part of a broader funding package:

• The county has already secured $300 million through a local vehicle registration fee

• An additional $20 million was provided by the state legislature in 2023 via lottery revenue bonds (HB 5030) KATU+2multnomah.granicus.com+2Business Tribune+2Multnomah County+5Multnomah County+5Daily Journal of Commerce+5

• The grant application—targeted at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Program—requires a 50% local match, coming from existing county bonding, state funds, and smaller federal sources Daily Journal of Commerce+4KATU+4multnomah.granicus.com+4

🗓 Project Timeline

• Design Phase Continues: Extended through 2027 to refine design and evaluate cost-saving measures. The project reached roughly 60% design completion by early 2025 Multnomah County.

• Construction Start: Expected in 2028, with completion by 2033 Finance & Commerce.

🧭 Strategic Importance of the Bridge

The Burnside Bridge serves as a designated Regional Emergency Transportation Route, making its earthquake readiness essential for post-disaster recovery. It connects east-west travel corridors and ensures emergency vehicles can operate when other routes fail KATU+11Wikipedia+11Axios+11.

Local leaders and residents have emphasized the bridge’s vital role—not only in everyday transportation but as a lifeline for emergency response and regional resilience Multnomah County+1Multnomah County+1.

📊 What Comes Next

• Federal Decision: The grant application will be reviewed in the coming months. If awarded, Multnomah County will secure nearly half the cost of what is Oregon’s largest seismic infrastructure project.

• Legislative Follow‑Up: The County continues to advocate in the Oregon Legislature for transport funding through upcoming budget sessions Business Tribune+2Multnomah County+2Multnomah County+2Axios.

• Community Engagement: Public input sessions remain part of the project’s environmental review and design refinements, focusing on community priorities like traffic flow, bike/pedestrian access, and emergency egress Multnomah County.

Multnomah County is advancing its campaign to rebuild Portland’s Burnside Bridge with federal support. If the $447 million Multimodal Grant is awarded, it will help pave the way for construction in 2028, ensuring that a seismic-proof, modern, multimodal crossing replaces a bridge that is currently ill-prepared for a major earthquake. With strong local investment and momentum on the ground, the project continues to garner both technical and public backing toward realizing a resilient infrastructure vision for the region.