Press Release: Sellwood Bridge task force decision coming Monday

This just in from Multnomah County:

Sellwood Bridge task force meeting on January 19

The Community Task Force for the Sellwood Bridge Project will meet on Monday, January 19 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at OMSI, 1945 SE Water Avenue. At the meeting, the task force is expected to recommend a preferred alternative to provide a long-term solution for the bridge. The preferred alternative will specify the alignment and cross-section of the bridge, how it connects with roads on the east and west sides of the river, and whether it will include a new bridge or a rehabilitation of the existing bridge.

Five build alternatives and one no build option have been analyzed in a draft Environmental Impact Statement. The build alternatives range in cost from $280 to $361 million and include three bridge replacements and two rehabilitations.

On February 6 the Policy Advisory Group, comprised of elected and appointed officials, will consider the task force recommendation before making its own recommendation. The preferred alternative recommended by the Policy Group must be adopted by Multnomah County, the City of Portland and Metro before the Federal Highway Administration can issue a final approval.

The task force meeting is open to the public and will include time for public comment.

Multnomah County maintains the Sellwood Bridge, five other Willamette River bridges, and more than 300 miles of roads. For more information, visit www.sellwoodbridge.org.