I-5 bridge replacement focus will shift to 'core projects,' governors say

Interstate Bridge Replacement Program

The governors of Washington and Oregon committed to replacing the 109-year-old Columbia River Bridge that connects their states despite soaring costs but will focus on core projects and postpone others.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, both Democrats, issued a joint statement Tuesday affirming their commitment as updated project estimates showed the cost of the project has climbed to between $13.5 billion and $15.2 billion.

The focus will be on a $7.65 billion "core set of projects," including replacing the northbound and southbound spans of the bridge, connecting the new bridges to I-5 and extending light-rail services to Vancouver, according to the governors.

"The bridge must and will be replaced," Ferguson said. "Delaying a major project has never made costs go down. We've achieved important progress in the past year and we will continue to move forward by focusing on the core mission of replacing the bridge."

The project received a boost in January when the coast guard approved a fixed-bridge design.

Politicians and planners have spent decades trying to design and finance a replacement for the aged Interstate Bridge connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

Core projects are being prioritized because of the jump in cost, they said.

Projects that will be pushed to a later phase include: five miles of I-5 expansion and seven new freeway interchanges stretching from Portland to Vancouver. The light-rail extension between Expo Center and downtown Vancouver remains in the core plans.

The increased estimate on the overall project "reflects rising costs due to inflation and cost increases in the construction industry," according to the governors' statement. The estimate also "provides significant cushion for unexpected developments, such as more tariff volatility," they said.

Kotek emphasized the risk of doing nothing, because the current structure is not considered strong enough to withstand an earthquake.

"We need a new bridge and it's time to start building it," Kotek said. "By focusing our funding on a core set of projects, we can deliver what Oregonians have been waiting for for decades: a modern, earthquake-ready bridge, with no bridge lifts, and less traffic congestion."

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program has $5.5 billion in available state and federal funding, which is sufficient to begin the construction process, while working toward further improvements to the larger corridor on both sides of the bridge. The program's leaders are pursuing an additional $1 billion in funding through the Federal Transit Administration's capital investment grant program.

The program expects to hire a contractor in 2027 to complete design work.

"Managing our risks, including schedule, is imperative," said Oregon Department of Transportation's Interim Director Lisa Sumption. "We are committed to moving this program into construction and completing this critical infrastructure for our region and the economy."