/ Neighborhood News - Southeast

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Homeowners, developers and office dwellers near Portland's Sellwood Bridge face an uncertain future Friday.

After years of speculation, Multnomah County has released it's concepts for a possible replacement of the old, crumbling bridge.

Among the concepts for replacement, there are three possible alignments north of the existing bridge and one south of the existing bridge.

File photo/Eric Norberg

The Sellwood Bridge in Southeast Portland.

In each of the scenarios, properties would be either displaced, torn down or altered to accommodate a new structure.

Rehabilitating the existing structure is still an option. But even that would be a very expensive, according to county bridge officials.

So far, the county has raised about $25 million for the project, which is expected to reach completion no earlier than 2014. But that's only a fifth of what the eventual cost would likely be.

Until May, the county is accepting the public's new ideas for enhancing or replacing the two-lane bridge. After that, neighbors should expect a decision within the next year.

Condo owners and office workers beneath the bridge tell Newschannel 8 their lives and their livelihoods are in financial limbo until a plan is in place. They will plead with the county to rehabilitate the Sellwood or build a new bridge north of the current site to help mitigate any impact on property owners.

To view a map of the bridge ideas and to learn how to make your comments about this future project, visit Sellwood Bridge.org