Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge
Portland OR is located in a seismic zone and susceptible to a potential future Cascadian megathrust earthquake. To ensure cross‑river connectivity after a major seismic event, the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge (EQRB) project is set to replace the existing 2,320ft long crossing which sits on the geographic spine of the city. The new bridge, like its 1922 forerunner, features a double bascule bridge over the Willamette river. The existing moving bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss and the fixed bridge by Gustav Lindethal, leaving a significant engineering legacy and historical asset that informs and moderates the design of the replacement. A new long span bridge avoiding foundations in liquifiable soils crosses an interstate highway and rail corridor on the east. On the west side the bridge crosses waterfront parkland and punctuates the historic downtown area, requiring a design adjustment in scale and profile