The bridge was designed by Ira G. Hedrick and Robert E. Kremers, incorporating a bascule lift mechanism designed by Joseph Strauss.

Including approaches, the Burnside has a total length of 2,308 ft (703 m) and a 251 ft (77 m) center span.
While lowered this span is normally 64 ft (20 m) above the river.
The deck is made of concrete, which contributes to its being one of the heaviest bascule bridges in the United States.
The counterweights, housed inside the two piers, weigh 1,700 short tons (1,518 long tons; 1,542 t).
The lifting is normally controlled by the Hawthorne Bridge operator, but an operator staffs the west tower during high river levels.
 As of 2005, the bridge opened for river traffic an average of 35 times a month.

The bridge provides shelter for the initially unauthorized Burnside Skatepark under the east end.
On weekends, the Portland Saturday Market was held mostly under the bridge's west end for many years.
The market was reoriented in 2009, but the Burnside Bridge continues to provide shelter for a few vendor stalls at the market's northern end.
The bridge was designed by Ira G. Hedrick and Robert E. Kremers, incorporating a bascule lift mechanism designed by Joseph Strauss.
Including approaches, the Burnside has a total length of 2,308 ft (703 m) and a 251 ft (77 m) center span. While lowered this span is normally 64 ft (20 m) above the river. The deck is made of concrete, which contributes to its being one of the heaviest bascule bridges in the United States. The counterweights, housed inside the two piers, weigh 1,700 short tons (1,518 long tons; 1,542 t). The lifting is normally controlled by the Hawthorne Bridge operator, but an operator staffs the west tower during high river levels.  As of 2005, the bridge opened for river traffic an average of 35 times a month.
The bridge provides shelter for the initially unauthorized Burnside Skatepark under the east end. On weekends, the Portland Saturday Market was held mostly under the bridge's west end for many years. The market was reoriented in 2009, but the Burnside Bridge continues to provide shelter for a few vendor stalls at the market's northern end.
Burnside Bridge