OMSI Development

[PlantDad]

Originally Posted by Jakz

By far the most realistic option for getting the freeway off the riverfront is building a 50' lower Marquam bridge (matching Tillikum) with an approach that can go under Hawthorne and then run in a cut-and-cover trench built adjacent to the current alignment to Burnside. This would also allow for the removal of the Goose Hollow/Pearl sections of I-405. It would be relatively cost-effective too if it were designed strictly for current traffic levels. .

I've never heard of this idea of just lowering the Marquam Bridge so that it's below grade on the eastside, but that seems much more affordable than a tunnel from South Portland to North Portland. I think one of the issues I have with I-5 downtown is how loud it is when you're on the riverfront. I've seen bridges with sound walls in other countries, I wish they could do that here on both the existing and replacement bridge (should that be the option). I wish our politicians could chew gum and walk at the same time by cleaning up the city and dealing with current social problems while planning for a more livable city in the future.

[Jakz]

Originally Posted by mhays

That seems like an extremely low cost for that trench. Denver's example had no groundwater (I assume) and they had a wide adjacent space to build it while the freeway remained open.

Yeah, it's definitely low and I'm sure our costs would be at least twice as high. But the idea would be the same. Create a wide adjacent space for construction outside of the existing ROW by taking the fruit warehouse blocks plus a few others, demo'ing the Morrison ramps, and putting the railroad on a temporary shoefly. If/when the riverfront gets redeveloped the warehouses will be replaced anyway. Using IBR costs as a reference, for current capacity I think a new bridge would cost $2B, trench & cover $1B-$1.5B, new I-84 interchange $1B. $2 tolls could raise $5B over 30 years, and value capture could likely raise another $1B.

First task though is convincing ODOT to build new capacity on bypass routes instead of on I-5. Which they should do anyway since bypass routes are better for freight and can be expanded at a tenth of the cost. But I'm well off-topic now...

Glad the OMSI project is moving forward, just think it's unfortunate it includes this block.

[mhays]

Also a decade of escalation vs. the Denver example.

The tough part seems to be political, meaning the electorate. They'd understand the portions that need to be rebuilt due to earthquake risk, but aren't some chunks of this idea basically for quality-of-life and city-building reasons? For example isn't the Morrison Bridge still ok for decades with some seismic upgrades? Tolling a currently-free (to them) highway, taking a row of blocks, and adding to the baseline version's level/duration of disruption is a tough ask both locally and across the state.

That said, it's a great idea if it can work.

PS, maybe a mod can move the discussion...

[Jakz]

Originally Posted by mhays

Also a decade of escalation vs. the Denver example.

The tough part seems to be political, meaning the electorate. They'd understand the portions that need to be rebuilt due to earthquake risk, but aren't some chunks of this idea basically for quality-of-life and city-building reasons? For example isn't the Morrison Bridge still ok for decades with some seismic upgrades? Tolling a currently-free (to them) highway, taking a row of blocks, and adding to the baseline version's level/duration of disruption is a tough ask both locally and across the state.

That said, it's a great idea if it can work.

PS, maybe a mod can move the discussion...

(Bridge engineer here.) The Marquam bridge is 60 years old, so it's getting close to the end of its intended service life. The main structure was seismically retrofitted in 1995, but the approach viaducts (~1 mile long) weren't. The approach viaducts are at high risk of collapse in an earthquake due to liquefaction lateral spreading, in which the soil liquefies and the riverbank slides into the river. Retrofitting bridge foundations is cost-prohibitive, as the Abernethy project is currently illustrating. Because of the viaduct damage, the bridge probably wouldn't be usable for at least a year or two after the earthquake. The Burnside bridge replacement is critical for the immediate emergency response needs, but it won't keep the economy going after the earthquake. Having the Marquam bridge operational would be a game changer.

As for the soils along the waterfront, they will need strengthening to preclude liquefaction if/when redevelopment ever happens. Pier 2 in NW is currently doing deep-soil mixing at a cost of $20 million for ~1,000 ft. So add $80 million for soil improvements. Not exactly cheap but technically achievable and justifiable given the land value of the riverfront blocks would be in the $500 million range.

Just occured to me that we probably shouldn't be putting a residential building directly adjacent to a much-higher bridge at high risk of collapse. Not sure what the code considerations are though.

[mhays]

Thanks, good info.

I'm also curious about groundwater and soil conditions for the ditch/tunnel idea on the Eastside. Assuming water is currently above the proposed roadway, would soil mixing be enough (along the river and uphill) or would a full bathtub be required along with whatever mass is necessary to counter any buoyancy? And how does that relate to cost?

PS, I don't have a technical background, just marketing for the people who do.

[maccoinnich]

Notice of a Design Advice Request for Hacienda Housing at OMSI

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Notice of a Design Advice Request for Hacienda Housing at OMSI

Drawings [PDF - 30 MB] and Staff Memo

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Drawings [PDF - 30 MB] and Staff Memo

It's too bad they didn't add another floor to get closer to the max height for this lot. I'm also curious where people going to OMSI will be able to park once all of the parking lots are redeveloped.

[maccoinnich]

Bonamici secures $850k in federal funding for OMSI District infrastructure



U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici presented the city of Portland $850,000 on Tuesday to support the Gateway to OMSI project in Southeast Portland.

The federal funds will be used to modernize and update Water Avenue intersections to address safety and congestion for the area.

They will also prepare the area for growth and development as part of the OMSI Master Plan.

“This federal funding is doing exactly what it’s meant to do to provide the infrastructure that we need for this community,” Bonamici said during a news conference. “These investments send a message. Portland is a city on the rise, and arts, culture and public spaces are essential parts of a strong economy but also a thriving urban core.”

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

[downtownpdx]

Very cool. Shocking to see any fed $ coming to a project like this in the current climate.

[subterranean]

Love this, but it feels weird to have a rep's name on a large check. I imagine this is standard practice, but it definitely seems strange.

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by subterranean

Love this, but it feels weird to have a rep's name on a large check. I imagine this is standard practice, but it definitely seems strange.

That struck me too. I'm sure she was directly responsible for getting this appropriation, but even still it seems weird.

Does anyone have a clearer idea of exactly what this funds?

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

That struck me too. I'm sure she was directly responsible for getting this appropriation, but even still it seems weird.

Does anyone have a clearer idea of exactly what this funds?

Infrastructure, obviously. Kidding aside, I have no idea, but my guess would be some improvements to some intersections in that area. I initially thought it said $850million and was like, that could fund the whole restructuring of the infrastructure, but this amount will probably do some beginning work or just fix any current issues.

[MarkDaMan]

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2026...ore-cash-misses-2025-groundbreaking.html

Ambitious OMSI District lands more cash, misses 2025 groundbreaking
Published: Feb. 18, 2026, 6:00 a.m.
By Jonathan Bach | The Oregonian/OregonLive

A plan to redevelop the 24 acres of parking lots and vacant land surrounding the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry got another funding lift Tuesday when the City of Portland received $850,000 to fund infrastructure work on Water Avenue.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who secured the money as part of the ​​Congressional Community Project Funding process, handed city leaders a symbolic check at a press conference inside OMSI’s cafe.

Left unsaid at the press conference was that OMSI District leaders had missed their planned 2025 groundbreaking.

Years in the making, the plans won Portland Design Commission approval in 2023. The Portland City Council in 2024 approved $15.4 million for the OMSI District leaders’ plans to reconfigure roads and a new waterfront park to serve tens of millions of dollars in private development. At the time, OMSI had said it would seek to break ground on the district last year.

That didn’t happen.

“The design and value engineering process has taken longer than we anticipated,” an OMSI spokesperson said by email later Tuesday. “That said, we are making progress, and we have forward momentum.”

...

OMSI President and CEO Erin Graham said the $850,000 would help pay to modernize two intersections on the north and south ends of the OMSI District.

...

(continues)

[maccoinnich]

Request for Response for Los Colibris at 1701 SE Water Ave