More Construction on Willamette- Team Selected for $895M Portland Span
Multnomah County, has made its selection for the construction team to build the $895 million Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project in Portland, OR. This project will replace the nearly century-old bridge, a crucial emergency route that spans the Willamette River in the heart of the city.
The county has officially chosen Burnside Bridge Partners JV as the general contractor for the project. This partnership consists of: Stacy and Witbeck, based in Alameda, California; Traylor Bros., headquartered in Evansville, Indiana; and American Bridge, located in Pittsburgh.
In addition to selecting the general contractor, Multnomah County has also appointed HDR, an engineering firm based in Omaha, Nebraska, as the primary consultant responsible for delivering the final design services. This announcement was made on October 17.
The new bridge, spanning 2,200 feet in length, will feature a movable bascule span, allowing ample clearance for river traffic to pass beneath. It will consist of four lanes, a shared bicycle path and pedestrian area, and is designed to accommodate future Portland Streetcar traffic. In addition to spanning the river, it crosses nine interstate lanes, two railroad tracks, two light rail lines, and several community amenities, as stated in the release.
This bridge is the only non-freeway river crossing designated for emergency use in Multnomah County. To ensure its functionality during and after a Magnitude 8+ Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, HDR will implement rigorous seismic design criteria.
The construction of this project will follow the construction manager/general contractor method, and it is currently in the design phase. Multnomah County plans to commence demolition and construction activities in mid-2026, with the goal of opening the bridge to the public in the spring of 2031, according to a county spokesperson.
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