The Burnside Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 11 pm on Friday, March 29 until as late as 5 am on Monday, April 1 to allow Hamilton Construction to set up a work zone on the north side of the bridge and reopen lanes on the south side. This marks the final phase of a maintenance project that began in 2017. When the bridge reopens on April 1, the traffic plan will include:
One westbound and two eastbound traffic lanes
Shared-use paths (7-8 feet wide) for bicyclists, pedestrians and personal mobility devices (such as wheel chairs) on both sides of traffic. The north path will be separated from traffic by a barrier, while the south path will use the existing sidewalk.
The westbound TriMet bus stop on the bridge above NW Naito Parkway will temporarily move to West Burnside Street between NW 2nd Avenue and NW 3rd Avenue.
This traffic plan will remain until December as the contractor repairs pavement, deck joints, sidewalks and railings, paints areas below the deck, and makes other repairs.
During the bridge closure, bridge users can use an alternate river crossing such as the Morrison or Steel bridges.
The repairs are part of the $19.1 million Burnside Bridge Maintenance Project. The project includes structural, mechanical, electrical, and surface repairs designed to extend the life of the bridge 15 – 20 years. The bridge is 92 years old.
Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and five other Willamette River bridges. The county is developing a long-term plan to ensure that the Burnside Bridge can withstand a major earthquake, since it is part of a regional lifeline route. The 2017-2019 repairs are for maintenance only, and will not improve the bridge’s performance in an earthquake.
For more information, visit www.burnsidebridge.org or follow us on Twitter @MultCoBridges.
