As reported in the Oregonian, Multnomah County released detailed information about five proposals to repair or replace the Sellwood Bridge. Details include cost estimates, length of construction, and number of businesses and residents displaced by the proposed alternatives.
Costs range from $280 million to $361 million, or the county could spend just $54 million to repair and maintain the bridge as is for 20 years. However, this would not address any long-term traffic problems.
Bridge configurations range from two traffic lanes with a generous shared walk/bike path on one side of the bridge to four traffic lanes with a shared walk/bike paths on both sides of the bridge. At the very least, 9 businesses and one resident will be displaced, with the most ambitious alternative displacing 48 businesses and 6 residents.
I wonder if the cost estimates include paying market rate for the properties of those businesses and residents that will be displaced?
The list provides a diverse range of alternatives. The one that caught my attention was Alternative C. It costs $280 million, provides three traffic lanes, with a 20-foot shared walk/bike path suspended under the roadway. One would assume that lane configurations would change with traffic loads, providing two lanes for the heavy commute direction. It's the lowest cost option for replacement and puts the walk/bike path below the roadway, which, to me, seems safer.
The Oregonian put together a nice graphic that gives the basic details of each alternative. Download it and tell us what you think about the alternatives presented.
