Multi-Use Transit Bridge
A major feature of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project will be a new dedicated transit bridge over the Willamette River. This signature bridge will carry:
- Portland-Milwaukie light rail trains
- Bus lines 9, 17 and 19, which currently travel on the Ross Island Bridge
- Pedestrians, who will be able to walk between two greenways, one on each bank of the Willamette River
- Cyclists, who can commute via the bridge and connect to city and regional bike routes
The bridge also will be designed to accommodate Streetcar in the future. It will be the first bridge built across the Willamette in 35 years, likely being the only bridge of its kind in the United States when completed.
Willamette River Bridge Advisory Committee
Between July 2008 and February 2009, the Willamette River Bridge Advisory Committee (WRBAC) studied bridge types for the site of the future multi-use transit bridge. Under the leadership of former Portland Mayor Vera Katz and working with national and international bridge engineers and architects, the committee considered a wide variety of bridge types and how each fits an array of criteria specific to the site, the project budget and Portland. During this same time frame, a working group of technical staff representing project partners and project consultants met to evaluate selection criteria and provide reports and options to the WRBAC.
In February 2009, the WRBAC recommended that the project conduct further analysis of cable-stayed bridge types for the river overcrossing, and in May 2009 the committee recommended that the project proceed with designing a four-pier cable-stayed bridge type. The design phase of this bridge type is now under way. The committee continues to meet on occasion to advise the project on bridge design issues.
Presentations made to the WRBAC and its associated technical working group, as well as meeting agendas and summaries, can be found here:
