The cost of the earthquake-ready Burnside Bridge replacement project could be reduced by as much as $240 million.
After months of work to develop and review them, three cost-saving measures for the earthquake-ready Burnside Bridge replacement project have received final approval.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, March 17, unanimously adopted a resolution allowing the county to move forward with the measures.
County officials said the measures will reduce the estimated price tag of the project from more than $1 billion to $895 million.
The project aims to create a bridge that could withstand a major earthquake in the region, standing as a lifeline across the Willamette River.
Geologists say there’s a 1-in-3 chance of a magnitude 8.0 or higher earthquake occurring in the region within the next 50 years, likely causing widespread damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. It has been more than 300 years since the last major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault in the Earth’s crust running from British Columbia to northern California.
County officials directed staff to develop cost-saving measures for the project due to pandemic-related price increases for construction materials and labor. Officials also have pointed to inflation as a factor in the cost hikes. Additionally, Metro’s regional transportation bond, which would have contributed $150 million to the project, failed in 2020.
The cost-saving measures went through multiple stages of review with the both project’s Community Task Force and Policy Group signing off on them earlier this year.
“It shows that you all have given this presentation many, many times to many, many different groups,” County Chair Deborah Kafoury told project team members Thursday. “The work that you’ve done to get to this place with going through the numerous committees and groups has made this project better, stronger and have a lot more community buy-in.”
Two of the measures include building a bascule movable span and a girder structure for the bridge’s western approach. The measures would save between $45 million and $75 million, officials say.
A third measure would include narrowing the planned width of the replacement bridge, reducing both the amount of space for bicycles and pedestrians and the number of vehicle lanes from five to four. That measure, which would reduce costs by $140 million to $165 million, received less support than the other two during the review stages.
County staff are evaluating potential funding sources for the project from local, state and federal programs, including the recently-passed Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The county can access $300 million for the project from local vehicle registration fee revenue, county officials say.
In May, the public can review and comment on the project’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will document the cost-saving measures and their impacts. The Federal Highway Administration will be asked to approve the Final Environmental Impact Statement in late 2022.
Design work is expected to begin in late 2022, with construction starting in 2025, pending funds being secured.
For project information, visit www.burnsidebridge.org.
You count on us to stay informed and we depend on you to fund our efforts. Quality local journalism takes time and money. Please support us to protect the future of community journalism.
Source: https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/539553-432051-county-cuts-burnside-bridge-replacement-cost