Replacing the aging Interstate Bridge with a modern, earthquake resilient, multimodal structure is a high priority for Oregon and Washington. The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program was awarded $600 million federal grant to move the project forward. As of March 2022, both states have dedicated a combined $90 million for initial Interstate Bridge replacement planning work and have pledged $1 billion from each state. Replacing the bridge is expected to cost around $6 billion, and planners are hoping to see $2.5 billion of that come from federal grants.

A bistate legislative committee, composed of 16 Oregon and Washington lawmakers, provides additional guidance and oversight for the program. A recently passed Move Ahead Washington transportation revenue package allocated $1 billion to fund Washington’s share of the anticipated costs needed to complete the IBR program. Given the funding reality for large transportation projects nationwide, it is assumed that construction of a bridge replacement will require revenue from a diverse range of sources, including federal funds, state funds from both Oregon and Washington, and tolling.

I-5 is the only continuous north-south freeway between Canada and Mexico that makes the Interstate Bridge a critical trade route for regional, national, and international commerce. It is projected that a major earthquake would likely damage, potentially beyond repair, and bring the west coast commerce to a standstill. A new bridge would meet seismic standards and built tall enough so river trade will not disrupt bridge traffic.

The IBR is working toward replacing the I-5 bridge with a plan that would solve congestion for some 143,000 vehicles each day with improved merging lanes, adding light rail and an auxiliary lane for walking and biking to optimize traffic flow.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Planning priority is on equity to help shape program work and realize economic and transportation benefits. An Equity Advisory Group provides a framework that outlines the program’s approach to equity and the resources it will use to advance equity, including equitable tolling and pricing strategies.

The public is invited to share their thoughts and sign up to receive updates.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-19 13:25:43

Last Update: 2023-12-19 17:38:12