Global design firm selected for Oregon bridge’s $895M seismic upgrade

by arslan_ahmed | November 21, 2023 10:55 am

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HDR, Inc., has been selected as the prime design consultant for the $895 million Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project in Portland, Oregon, which will replace a nearly century-old structure with a seismically resilient bridge designed to have a 100-year service life.

The bridge and Burnside Street are an official emergency transportation route, and the bridge is the Multnomah County’s only non-freeway river crossing designated for use in an emergency. A stringent seismic design criteria will ensure the bridge is functional during and after the imminent magnitude 8+ Cascadia subduction zone earthquake.

To improve collaboration with the selected contractor, the project will be delivered using the construction manager/general contractor method. HDR will work closely with the contractor to deliver a constructable, efficient design that effectively manages all risks.

The current bridge crosses the Willamette River and serves about 45,000 vehicles daily, plus thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists. Located in a dense urban area, numerous project constraints complicate the replacement effort. The new, 671-m (2,200-ft)-long bridge will cross not just the river but nine interstate lanes, two railroad tracks, two light rail lines, and multiple community amenities. A movable bascule span will allow river traffic to pass through with unlimited clearance.

The bridge will include four lanes, a combined bicycle path, and pedestrian space, and it will be designed to accommodate future Portland Streetcar loads.

“As a Portland resident, I’m honored to work on what will be a landmark for the city,” says HDR project manager Steve Drahota. “And as an engineer, I’m excited to lead a collaborative team to successfully deliver this technically complex structure. I’ve been working on different phases of the Burnside Bridge project for more than a decade, and crossing the completed bridge will be a highlight of my career.”

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/global-design-firm-selected-for-oregon-bridges-895m-seismic-upgrade/

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