Governors recommit to replacing Columbia River Bridge

Program Contact: Kimberly Webb, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, 1-844-427-6397 (844-IBR-NEWS)  | media@interstatebridge.org

Governors Ferguson and Kotek recommit to replacing Columbia River Bridge after Interstate Bridge Replacement Program updates cost projections

109-year-old bridge provides critical connection between states.

Vancouver, WA – Governor Bob Ferguson and Governor Tina Kotek are committed to replacing the 109-year-old Interstate Bridge connecting Washington and Oregon on Interstate 5. Replacing the structure with a modern, fixed-span bridge recently approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and extending light rail to Vancouver is critical. More than 143,000 vehicles per day use the Interstate Bridge, providing vital community and public safety connections. However, the bridge is not built to modern standards and is at significant risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake.

The Environmental Impact Statement for the project states that: “This collapse potential is due to the fact that hundreds of timber bridge support piles sit within loose sand that can liquefy during an earthquake.”

The governors’ commitment follows the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program’s updated cost estimates for the bridge replacement and related projects. The Program estimates that replacing the northbound and southbound spans of the bridge, connecting the new bridges to I-5, and extending light rail service to Vancouver will cost $7.65 billion. This estimate reflects rising costs due to inflation and cost increases in the construction industry. It provides significant cushion for unexpected developments, such as more tariff volatility.

The IBR Program currently has $5.5 billion in available state and federal funding to replace the bridge. This funding is sufficient to continue the states’ momentum and begin the construction process while working toward further improvements to the larger corridor on both sides of the bridge. The Program is 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. During design work, the states will work with the contractor to identify savings. Replacing the bridge is expected to create thousands of good-paying jobs.

Governor Ferguson and Governor Kotek are actively engaged in the work to replace the bridge. Governor Ferguson traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with senior U.S. Coast Guard leadership to make the states’ case for a fixed span to replace the bridge, rather than a bridge that opens and closes for river traffic, causing traffic backups and safety hazards.

Governor Ferguson also personally met with river users and helped secure signed agreements that paved the way for the U.S. Coast Guard’s recent approval of the states’ plan for a fixed-span replacement bridge. This is a major positive development. A moveable span would have cost an additional $1.7 billion beyond the current cost estimate.

“The bridge must, and will be replaced,” Governor 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.”

“We need a new bridge and it's time to start building it," said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. "By focusing our available funding on a core set of projects, we can deliver what Oregonians have been waiting on for decades: a modern, earthquake-ready bridge, with no bridge lifts, less traffic congestion, extended light rail and better options for people walking and biking, At my direction, ODOT will focus on protecting Oregon taxpayers by making sure this critical project is delivered as efficiently as possible.”

“Without action, transportation challenges, safety risks and maintenance costs will continue to increase,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith. “With this new cost estimate, the need to replace this aging infrastructure does not go away — replacing the bridge ensures people and commerce keep moving along the West Coast and that the communities can receive life-saving services following a major earthquake.”

“Managing our risks, including schedule, is imperative,” noted 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.”

The total cost estimate for both the bridge and full five-mile corridor is $13.5 to $15.2 billion, with a most likely cost of $14.4 billion.

Beyond the replacement of the Columbia River Bridge with a modern bridge and extending light rail to Vancouver, the Program will work with partners to define the funding and sequencing plan for completing the full five-mile corridor of improvements.

“Programs of this size and complexity are typically constructed in phases,” said IBR Interim Program Administrator Carley Francis. “Starting construction on a new span across the Columbia is the first step toward delivering the full program.”

Cost estimates reflect risk, inflation

Nearly half — 45% — of the updated cost estimate is due to risk and anticipated inflation over the time it will take to build out the five-mile corridor. If the Program is able to resolve or reduce risks as the project continues, those anticipated costs would come down.

For example, one major risk factor accounted for in the updated estimate is the cost of delaying the project. Costs in the construction industry will increase over time, so any delay will increase costs for the project. Nationally, highway construction costs have increased by 58% since the initial 2022 cost estimate was developed.

Prior efforts to replace the bridge provide a clear illustration of how construction costs increase over time: In 2013, The Columbia River Crossing Project projected the cost for the full five-mile corridor at $3.4 billion.

Another major risk factor incorporated into the cost update is market uncertainty. That includes tariffs, which continue to be difficult to predict.

Progress and next steps

In January, the Program received the determination from the United States Coast Guard for a fixed span bridge, a key milestone.

The federal environmental documentation process is expected to conclude this year with the final Record of Decision which allows us to begin construction. The Program is moving forward with hiring a contractor for the Columbia River Bridges contract starting with a Request for Qualification this year. The Program expects to have a contractor for the Columbia River Bridges hired in 2027, with construction beginning in 2028.

About the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program

The IBR Program is a bi-state effort to replace the aging Interstate Bridge with a modern, seismically resilient multimodal corridor that addresses six critical transportation challenges in this area. These challenges include safety, congestion, earthquake vulnerability, impaired freight movement, a lack of transit options, and inadequate and active transportation facilities. The Program’s mission is to improve safety for all users of the Interstate Bridge by addressing outdated roadway elements such as narrow lanes, a lack of safety shoulders and poor sight lines. Proposed investments are expected to reduce crashes, better accommodate the increase in travelers, improve emergency response, facilitate the movement of goods and services, and support more reliable travel. By relieving congestion and supporting mobility, Program investments will help drive economic growth and keep the region competitive. Program development follows a transparent and data-driven process that includes collaboration with local, state, federal and tribal partners.

For more information: www.interstatebridge.org/CostEstimate