The Sellwood Bridge Community Advisory Committee will review bridge type options for the new bridge at a meeting on Tuesday, July 13 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at SMILE Station, 8210 SE 13th Avenue. Committee meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment.

The agenda includes:

• An overview of the process the committee will follow to recommend a bridge type
• A discussion to refine the aesthetic criteria that will be used to compare different bridge types
• A presentation and discussion led by architects Ricardo Rabines and Eric Lindebak of Safdie Rabines Architects on the key elements of the candidate bridge types

Later this year the committee will recommend their preferred structure type for the new bridge.  Options include a steel or concrete box girder, steel plate girder, delta frame, tied arch or deck arch (in steel or concrete), extradosed, or through arch (in steel or a concrete/steel hybrid).  Descriptions and images of the options are featured on the project website.

A preferred alternative that identified the location, cross section and interchange type has been recommended for the replacement bridge.  Design decisions will not be made until after the federal government approves the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement.  A record of decision by the Federal Highways Administration is expected in late summer.  Design work should begin in late 2010, with construction likely to start in 2012, if funding can be secured.

The advisory committee includes local residents representing different project stakeholder groups.  Members represent associations for neighborhoods, businesses, bridge neighbors, transportation modes that use the bridge, river users, and design professionals.

Multnomah County maintains the Sellwood Bridge and 300 miles of roads and bridges.  For project information, visit www.sellwoodbridge.org. 

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