Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains answers to questions we often hear about the Sellwood Bridge Project. If you have a question that you don't see addressed here, ask us and we'll get back to you. We may even update this page with your question.

Existing Sellwood Bridge

How safe is the current bridge?

The problems with the Sellwood Bridge are well known: foundation problems, general deterioration, and a narrow, lightweight design that poorly serves all traffic modes. Multnomah County maintains a rigorous safety program that includes visual inspections every three months to ensure that the bridge continues to be safe to use. The weight limits imposed in 2004, have helped preserve the structure. In 2008 the County injected glue in cracked sections of concrete to seal them against corrosive water and air. The County also monitors slope movement on the west side that could endanger the bridge. If Multnomah County ever determines the bridge is not safe to use, the bridge will be closed.

What are the Sellwood Bridge's main deficiencies?

The bridge has numerous deficiencies, including:

• Poor structural condition, with a limited service life
• Vehicle weight restrictions, which have forced an average of 1,400 trucks and buses each day to find a different river crossing route
• Geologic instability on the west end that has damaged the bridge
• Narrow travel lanes with no shoulders or median
• Short stopping distances and lines of sight for motorists
• One narrow sidewalk insufficient for bicyclists and pedestrians
• Poor connections to established trails at each end of the bridge
• Tight ramps at west end that cannot easily accommodate large vehicles
• High risk of structural failure in an earthquake
• A National Bridge Inventory sufficiency rating of 2 out of a possible score of 100 (see next question)

What makes this particular river crossing so important?

The Sellwood Bridge is very important the Portland metro region because of its location. The bridge provides the only crossing for a 12-mile stretch of the Willamette River between Oregon City and Portland, and it connects several state highways, including Oregon 99E, 43, and 224. It is the busiest two-lane bridge in Oregon, with an average daily traffic count of 30,000 vehicles. It is also located in a heavily populated area that is experiencing high density development. 

Who uses the Sellwood Bridge?

Due to the lack of other river crossings in the southern metro region, and its close proximity to the Multnomah/Clackamas County line, the Sellwood Bridge serves a diverse group of users. The bridge is a primary east-west connection for residents and businesses in west Portland/Washington County and those in Sellwood, Milwaukie, and Clackamas County. Many bridge users are commuters who live in Clackamas County. In fact, eighty-three percent of Sellwood Bridge trips begin or end outside the Portland city limits. Prior to the reduction of weight limits in 2004, the bridge was an important secondary freight route, especially for local deliveries. Weight limits prevent many delivery trucks from using the bridge, forcing out-of-direction travel that adds to congestion on other routes and increases costs to businesses and consumers.

---

New Sellwood Bridge

How soon will construction start?

Construction of the temporary piers for the detour bridge began in December 2011. The new bridge is expected to open in 2015 and the entire project should be completed in early 2016.

What is the timeframe/process for purchasing right-of-way?

Steps in the right of way acquisition process include writing legal descriptions for property needed, conducting appraisals, making offers and completing purchase agreements. The process is governed by state and federal laws. Right-of-way negotiations have been completed for most properties.

How will I cross the river during construction?

The Sellwood Bridge, via the Shoofly detour, will remain open to motor vehicle and bicycle/pedestrian use except for occasional, short-term closures which will be announced well in advance. The project's goal is to have no more than 30 days of bridge closures during the entire period of construction. It is expected that OR 43 (SW Macadam Avenue) will remain open also, except for brief closures.

---

Funding

What is the funding plan for a new bridge?

The current cost estimate for the Sellwood Bridge Replacement is $268.8 million (in 2014 dollars, the projected middle year for construction). The cost includes the new bridge, an interchange where the bridge connects with Highway 43, right-of-way, design, and mitigating impacts to protected resources. The funding plan includes the following sources:

$127 million - Multnomah County VRF ($19 per year vehicle registration fee)
$73.5 million - City of Portland (new revenues from the Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act)
$35 million - State of Oregon (Jobs and Transportation Act) for Highway 43 interchange

$17.7 million - Federal TIGER grant
$15.6 million - Previously secured federal funds

The plan to eliminate the funding shortfall includes securing additional state or federal funds.

What about the Multnomah County vehicle registration fee? How much is it?

In 2009 Multnomah County's Board of Commissioners adopted a county vehicle registration fee to help fund a replacement for the deteriorated Sellwood Bridge. As required by state law, any revenue from this fee will be used exclusively to replace the Sellwood Bridge.

The Multnomah County fee is $19 per year per vehicle, or $38 for a two-year renewal. The fee applies to Multnomah County residents that pay a state vehicle registration fee. Trucks weighing 26,000 lbs. or more pay a separate weight/mile fee. The Multnomah County fee is in addition to the state DMV vehicle registration fee (amount varies). If a vehicle is registered within the Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) air testing area, a $21 emissions certificate of compliance is also required.

Multnomah County residents pay the fee to the DMV when they renew their state vehicle registration. Or, if they do not have an address change at the time of renewal, county residents may pay the fee at a DEQ vehicle inspection station after passing the required emissions test.

The fee will remain in effect for 20 years and is projected to raise $127 million, or 47% of the funds needed to replace the Sellwood Bridge. It will take that long to pay off the construction bonds.