Sellwood Bridge Project

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Sellwood Bridge: At a Turning Point

The Sellwood Bridge has been an important Willamette River crossing for residents of Portland and the metro region for more than 80 years. Unfortunately, time and the elements have taken their toll and the bridge has reached the end of its useful service life. Though Multnomah County continues to ensure public safety through a program of inspections and short-term repairs, a long-term solution is needed.

Thus, the County, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, City of Portland, and Metro, is studying potential solutions through an alternatives development and evaluation process that ends with an environmental impact statement (EIS). In the end, a decision will be made on which bridge alternative best meets the community's short- and long-term needs.

The Community Task Force and Project Advisory Group approved a range of alternatives for further evaluation in June 2007. These alternatives were screened against previously adopted criteria. The evaluation results were used, along with feedback from the public, by the Community Task Force and Policy Advisory Group to select five alternatives for analysis in the draft EIS. After an online survey and public open house, bridge types for replacement bridge alternatives were chosen for study in the draft EIS.

Currently, the technical team is studying the alternatives in greater detail for the draft EIS. Information about the alternatives’ anticipated impacts to nearby structures has been developed. In the fall of 2008, the draft EIS will be available for public comment. Until then, you can send us your comments and questions.

Read past project messages here The Sellwood Bridge.

Important Project Updates What’s new with the Sellwood Bridge Project? Project milestones are listed below, starting with the most recent developments. This list is updated regularly.

07/08 - The draft EIS begins the FHWA review process. Get notified when the document is ready for public review this fall.

05/08 - The project team continues to study the alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement. New images of the alternatives were created to show greater detail.

03/08 - The project team continues to work on the draft environmental impact statement. Learn more about what will be covered in this document.

01/08 - Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey sends an email update to the public about the current phase of the project.

12/07 - The Community Task Force recommended and the Policy Advisory Group adopted the bridge types that will be studied in the Draft EIS.

11/07 - On November 28th around 70 people attended the Bridge Type Open House.

10/07 - On October 19th the PAG approved the refined alternative definitions that will be studied in the draft EIS.

09/07 - On September 17th the CTF members recommended four alternatives for the draft EIS.

09/07 - The Build a Bridge tool, which helped explain the complicated process of selecting an alternative, was removed from the website after Survey 3 was completed by over 3,000 individuals.

07/07 - Around 250 people attended the July 25 open house, to help us narrow down alternatives for further study in the draft environmental impact statement (draft EIS).

05/07 - The Community Task Force evaluated and recommended concepts for further evaluation. The Policy Advisory Group considered the Community Task Force recommendations and adopted a range of alternatives.

04/07 - Approximately 1,900 people took the second survey, which asked for input on the first set of alignment, width, and interchange concepts.

04/07 - The public workshop on April 4 attracted over 330 citizens. Public feedback was gathered on the initial concepts. This is what we heard.

01/07 - Evaluation Framework recommended by Community Task Force and adopted by Policy Advisory Group. Criteria will be used to compare and rank alternatives in spring 2007. Threshold criteria must be met for an alternative to be further studied. Criteria and measures identified by the community, policy makers, and project team.

11/06 - The Purpose and Need Statement is recommended by Community Task Force and adopted by Policy Advisory Group. The statement is a federal requirement and it confirms that the project will tie in with the Tacoma Street corridor.

10/06 - Nearly 200 people attend the first project open house at Oaks Park. Public input is gathered on key issues and project’s Purpose and Need.

09/06 - Project website launches. More than 800 people complete first online survey on key issues.

06/06 - Community Task Force begins monthly meetings with project staff.

06/06 - Policy Advisory Group adopts project decision process and structure at first meeting.

05/06 - Policymakers recruited for Policy Advisory Group, which considers public input and makes decisions at key milestones. Members include elected and appointed officials from local counties, cities, state, and federal governments, as well as TriMet.

Spring/06 - Twenty-member Community Task Force recruited and appointed by Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to provide policy makers with stakeholder input. Seventy people applied for the task force.

Spring/06 - County selects CH2M HILL as prime contractor for planning phase. The consultant provides technical services and will draft the Environmental Impact Statement. County awards an independent contract to Cogan Owens Cogan to facilitate the Community Task Force.

08/05 - Federal SAFETEA-LU legislation includes $7 million for project.

2004 - 2005 - Multnomah County secures $4 million for planning phase (local and federal funds).