Bridgeless to Better Burnside: Reclaiming Burnside, Reconnecting the West Side

This report, produced for Better Block PDX, is a resource for shaping the future of lower West Burnside Street during and after the 2028–2033 Burnside Bridge closure. It captures current conditions, community input, principles of transportation planning and placemaking, and recommended interventions to build a shared vision for transforming the corridor from a barrier into a pedestrian-friendly, vibrant street. Framed around a two-phase timeline, temporary interventions during the bridge closure and permanent improvements after the new bridge opens, it offers a snapshot of community visions and a blueprint for turning those visions into action. Recommended interventions for the new bridge period aim to establish West Burnside as a balanced transportation corridor and a lively neighborhood street. Ultimately, designs at that time should reflect the community’s evolving needs and aspirations, building on the lessons and successes of the previous phase.