Current Phase

Final Design (2011-2012)

The NEPA process is finished and the project received federal approval for the preferred alternative. A Steel Deck Arch is the recommended bridge type. The Sellwood Bridge project is now nearing the end of a planning phase to complete the design for a new river crossing and Highway 43 interchange. This effort has been shaped by a Community Advisory Committee. Consistent with Multnomah County’s commitment to transparency and good public process, public involvement continues to play an important role in this project.

Guiding the design process is a consultant team led by T.Y. Lin International and CH2M HILL. David Evans & Associates are advisors to the county. JLA Public Involvement is providing community engagement services and the bridge architect is Safdie Rabines Architects of San Diego, which has designed signature bridges throughout the United States.

Slayden/Sundt, a joint venture of Slayden Construction Group and Sundt Construction, has been chosen to build the new Sellwood Bridge. Construction begins in December 2011.

The composition, roles and responsibilities of the major groups involved in the current phase are described below.

Who is involved in this phase?

The Public (You)

Public involvement plays an enormous role in this project. The input from you and thousands of other interested and engaged people has directly influenced project outcomes. The public will be informed and involved through a variety of means, including newsletters, public open houses, stakeholder meetings, online surveys, and this Web site.

Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) (pdf, 45 kb) is providing recommendations and helping refine design elements of the new replacement bridge. The CAC represents a balance of stakeholder interests, affected communities, and geographic areas, and serves as a communications link back to those groups. Members include leaders of neighborhoods on both sides of the bridge, as well as representatives of local and regional business groups, advocates for bridge users (including commuters, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists), and members of the design community.

Responsibilities of the CAC members include:

  • Representing constituents’ perspectives during group deliberations,
  • Communicating project progress with constituents, and
  • Working to develop consensus based recommendations.

Meeting materials and summaries from past CAC meetings can be found on the past committee meetings page.

Public Stakeholder Committee (PSC)

The Public Stakeholder Committee (PSC) includes elected and appointed officials of local agencies and jurisdictions with regulatory responsibility for, or who have a strong interest in, the project. The PSC will review the work of the CAC, receive their bridge type recommendation, and provide a recommendation to the Multnomah Board of County Commissioners.

The group includes:

  • Co-Chair, Chair Jeff Cogen / Multnomah County
  • Co-Chair, Commissioner Deborah Kafoury / Multnomah County
  • Mayor Sam Adams / City of Portland
  • Councilor Carlotta Collette / Metro Council
  • Mayor Jeremy Ferguson / City of Milwaukie
  • Neil McFarlane, General Manager / TriMet
  • Representative Carolyn Tomei / Oregon State House
  • Senator Diane Rosenbaum / Oregon Senate
  • Jason Tell / Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Phillip Ditzler/Federal Highway Administration

Meeting materials and summaries from past PSC meetings can be found on the past committee meetings page.