Multnomah County has scheduled a series of town hall meetings to present information on the condition of its Willamette River bridges and a proposal to fund their repair.
County Chair Ted Wheeler will share information on the county’s 20-year capital shortfall of $490 million for its six bridges across the Willamette. Bridge repair needs range from replacing or repairing the Sellwood Bridge to safety improvements such as replacing the open steel grating on the Morrison Bridge. The Board of County Commissioners is considering referring a measure for the May ballot that would increase the county vehicle registration fee to raise funds for bridge repairs.
Town halls are scheduled for:
- Thursday, January 31, 6 – 8 pm, Multnomah County East Building, Sharron Kelley Room, 600 NE 8th St., Gresham
- Monday, February 4, 6 – 8 pm, Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave., Portland
- Monday, February 11, 6 – 8 pm, Multnomah Building, Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
- Tuesday, February 19, 6 – 8 pm, North Portland Health Clinic, 9000 N. Lombard Blvd., Portland
The meeting format will include a presentation, an opportunity for the public to ask questions and share comments, and time to view displays on the condition and repair needs of the Willamette River bridges.
Multnomah County’s Willamette River bridges include the Broadway, Burnside, Hawthorne, Morrison, Sauvie Island and Sellwood. The bridges range in age from 50 to 98 years. Each day more than 180,000 vehicles cross the bridges, in addition to an estimated 12,000 bicyclists and thousands of pedestrians.
Contact: Michael Pullen, Public Affairs Office, 503-988-6804
One response to “Town halls to focus on funding for bridge repairs”
I recently blundered into a televised Columbia Crossings Task Force public meeting, it was fascinating, I wish this site had displayed (or perhaps, featured more prominently) the times for televised meetings of this body.