U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently met with state officials at the site of the Interstate Bridge replacement project, which links Oregon and Washington on Interstate 5 over the Columbia River. In December, the DOT's Mega Program declared that it had allocated $600 million towards a new bridge.
"USDOT's robust support for the interstate bridge replacement between Vancouver and Portland is big progress for Washington, Oregon and the whole West Coast. I want to thank the Biden Administration for recognizing how important this project is", said Jay Inslee, according to X. "This partnership with our friends in the federal government and Oregon will only continue to build momentum toward a new bridge that meets everyone's needs — including light rail and active transportation."
A news release from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program states that in August 2023, the state governments of Oregon and Washington jointly submitted a grant request to the DOT for this project. The endeavor aims to facilitate commuting for local families and act as a vital trade route for local, national, and international commerce.
Gov. Tina Kotek (D-OR) commented on the development, saying, "This is a big moment for the Pacific Northwest and demonstrates the national significance of this effort." She further added, "Replacing the Interstate Bridge is a critical infrastructure investment for our local communities, two states, and the entire West Coast. This project will help advance our goal of reducing emissions through a modern, multimodal bridge and will provide an infusion of federal funds to our region that will support local jobs and broader workforce opportunities."
According to the same news release, both Washington and Oregon state legislatures are contributing $1 billion each to fund the new bridge. The total cost anticipated for replacing the bridge and related infrastructure is around $6 billion.
Speaking about this initiative, Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Roger Millar said, "The transportation options provided by the IBR program investments will improve access, connectivity, and reliability across the Columbia River and throughout the nearly 5-mile program area." He continued by emphasizing that "this is an exciting day that clearly demonstrates that investing in multimodal infrastructure that can provide safe, efficient and accessible transportation options is a national priority and a commitment shared by both states."
