The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) has received authorization to amend the allocated funding for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program to $2.1 billion. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.
Originally set at $101.9 million, the program will support and advance three international bridge projects to reinforce the Interstate 5 corridor and ensure all bridge infrastructure is safe, secure, resilient and reliable. The projected cost for the holistic program is between $5 billion and $7.5 billion.
The Interstate Bridge Replacement program is a joint initiative between Oregon and Washington to reinforce and update interstate bridges along critical corridors. The agencies are collaborating on specifically replacing and improving the 5-mile stretch of corridor including the bridge across the Columbia River and associated interchanges.
A total of three bridge projects included as essential program components will benefit from increased funding.
The Columbia River Bridge (CRB) project has been given a $554.6 million budget to cover preliminary engineering, early construction and associated right of way acquisition and utility relocation costs. The holistic initiative has two associated child projects that will also receive increased funding.
The CRB Replacement project is the first child project, receiving nearly $1.5 billion to build the replacement I-5 bridge downstream of the existing bridge over the river. The project will build two bridges for multimodal transportation and shoulders on I-5 to enhance safety and accommodate bus-on-shoulder services.
The Oregon and Washington Pre-Completion Tolling Signage package is the second child project, receiving $24.6 million from the state. The increased funding will enable the OTC to commence early procurement of signage and other pre-completion tolling equipment. A majority of the budget will go toward civil construction, such as installing toll signage and toll gantries.
The increased funding will pave the way for future improvements to the corridor. A selection of proposed investments featured in the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program include:
- Replacing two bridges to bolster earthquake resilience.
- Expand bridge capacity to three through lanes with a minimum of one auxiliary lane in each direction with safety shoulders.
- Build a safe, accessible multimodal shared-use path.
- Extend light rail lines and add three transit stations to enhance access, link regional transit systems and expand public transit options.
- Implement bus-on-shoulder service for increased transit reliability.
- Build an arterial bridge from Hayden Island to Marine Drive.
- Modify seven interchanges and make adjacent enhancements.
- Implement variable rate tolling.
Photo by Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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