Burnside Bridge earthquake-ready design survey closes Wednesday
Portland is seeking public input on the final design for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project, which aims to replace the bridge with one that can withstand a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake, as there is a 37% chance of a megathrust earthquake in the next 50 years.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wednesday marks the last day Portlanders can weigh in on the final design for the city’s Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project.
Survey participants will get to consider three cable stays and three tied arches by “using interactive graphics and watching 3D videos that simulate the experience of being on and near the bridge.”
The survey will be available on the county’s website through July 31.
The project, which began in 2019, has worked with several groups – including engineers, architects, and other agencies – for aesthetic plans, structural components, costs and long-term maintenance needs.
The project aims to replace the Burnside Bridge with a bridge that will withstand a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake, which is expected in the zone every 300-500 years.
Height differences between the two proposed bridge styles for the Burnside Bridge preplacement project. (Multnomah County) 
Side-by-side comparisons of the six designs for the proposed Burnside Bridge rebuild. (Multnomah County) 
The "V-tower" is one of six designs proposed for the Burnside Bridge preplacement project. (Multnomah County) 
Cascadia Subduction Zone graphic (USGS)
According to Multnomah County, the project is necessary because no vehicular bridges that cross the Willamette River would be usable after a major earthquake.
Jan. 26, 2024, marked the 324th anniversary of the most recent earthquake — a massive Magnitude 9 quake spanning Northern California to British Columbia.
As pressure builds between the Juan de Fuca plate and the North American Plate, Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management says there’s about a 37% chance of a megathrust earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the next 50 years.