Sellwood Bridge Project

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Phase One

Current Phase

Sellwood Bridge Project
Moves into New Phase

The Sellwood Bridge project is a planning effort led by Multnomah County with its agency partners to develop a long-term solution for this 85-year old Willamette River crossing in Southeast Portland. A preferred alternative to replace the bridge was approved at the local level in 2009. Federal approval of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) is expected later this year. The project is currently in the preliminary screening phase, which is a public process that will determine the type of bridge structure to be built.

The preferred alternative is a new two-lane bridge with two sidewalks, two shoulders/bike lanes and a traffic signal at the west end connection with Highway 43.
A new Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is meeting through the spring and summer to make a recommendation about the type of replacement bridge to be built.
The new bridge will be constructed in a manner that will allow the bridge to remain open to traffic.
Design work on the new bridge and acquisition of land will begin after federal approval of the plan is received later this year.
The total project cost is estimated to be $330 million.
There is a regional funding plan to secure funds so construction can begin as expected in late 2012.

This website has been re-organized to better reflect the current phase of work. The Final EIS and resulting Record of Decision is the last step in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning process that the county has been following since 2006.

Read past project messages here

Talk to Mike Pullen at sellwoodbridge.blogspot.com

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.

07/10 - The Community Advisory Committee will review bridge type options on Monday, July 26.

07/10 - A new survey is available on the website only (take it before August 18, 2010).

07/10 - Over 100 people attended the public Open House on July 21, 2010 at the Oaks Park Dance Pavillion, to discuss bridge types.

07/10 - The Community Advisory Committee will review bridge type options on Tuesday, July 13.

06/10 - The Community Advisory Committee discussed components of the bridge replacement project and their initial preferences at a meeting on Monday, June 21.

06/10 - Project update planned for Sellwood Bridge stakeholders

06/10 - The Sellwood Bridge Community Advisory Committee will consider water quality project components, bridge aesthetics, and experiential criteria for bridge type scoring on June 7.

05/10 – The Community Advisory Committee made its first official project recommendation at the April 28 meeting. The CAC unanimously agreed to recommend a precast concrete arch culvert for the Stephens Creek crossing north of the Hwy. 43 interchange at the west end of the bridge. The improvement would be part of mitigation for bridge construction.

05/10 - The Community Advisory Committee discussed evaluation criteria for the new bridge on May 17.

05/10 - The Oregon Transportation Commission adopted the OR 43: Sellwood Bridge Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP), on May 13, 2010.

05/10 - The Preliminary Screening phase of the project began in late March, early April. New project groups are beginning to meet and the website will be updated soon to reflect these changes.

04/10 - Portland City Council approved a Statewide Planning Goal Exception, Greenway Goal Exception, and associated Comprehensive Plan amendment to authorize the placement of fill within the Willamette Greenway setback area generally at the west end of the Sellwood Bridge.

03/10 - On March 29, 2010 the Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) was published and available for a 30-day comment period.

10/09 - On October 22 the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners adopted a vehicle registration fee to help fund the replacement of the Sellwood Bridge.

10/09 - Multnomah County's approach for the proposed local vehicle registration fee is discussed in a new fact sheet. More information is available about upcoming and past public hearings and board meetings.

09/09 - Around 130 people attended the public Open House held on Wednesday, September 30th at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion. Learn more about the Open House and view the materials that were on display.

05/09 - Mike Pullen, Project Public Information Officer begins posting monthly updates about the Sellwood Bridge project.

02/09 and 03/09 - Multnomah County, City of Portland and Metro adopt the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) recommended by the Policy Advisory Group.

01/09 - The Community Task Force recommended an alternative to the PAG. For more information, review the PowerPoint Presentation from 1/26.

01/09 - The public comment period closed on 12/22 at midnight. Over 1,100 people took the survey and over 160 people submitted comments on the Draft EIS. A complete summary of the comments is available.

12/08 - Last day to submit your comment on the Draft EIS or take a survey is December 22 (at midnight).

12/08 - Over 150 people attended the open house/public hearing on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at OMSI.

11/08 - Draft EIS available! Learn how to get involved (public comment period from November 7 through December 22). Get a quick review of the Draft EIS findings - read the current Newsletter or watch an informational video.

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 (Draft EIS). 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 (Draft EIS). 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).