Sellwood Bridge project receives Engineering Excellence award

The Oregon chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies has honored the Sellwood Bridge project with a grand award for engineering excellence. The project was one of eight to receive a grand award at the organization’s annual awards dinner in January.

Awards are presented to projects led by engineering companies from Oregon and southwest Washington. The Sellwood Bridge project was honored for its recently completed planning phase. CH2M HILL, Inc. led the consultant team during the planning phase, which concluded last year with federal approval of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed new bridge. Other consultants on the planning team included Alta Planning and Design, JLA, Parisi Associates, and TY Lin International.

The consultant team worked closely with the bridge owner Multnomah County and the community throughout the planning phase. More than 120 alternative solutions were explored. More than 6,500 people shared their views on the alternatives at open houses and through online surveys. One survey allowed participants to “build a bridge” with different components to determine the cumulative impacts and cost of each alternative. The process led to adoption of a preferred alternative for a new two-lane bridge with improved facilities for all modes that has broad community and political support.

On behalf of Multnomah County, congratulations to our consultant CH2M HILL and the other members of the Sellwood consultant team for a job well done.