I-5 Bridge Replacement Project gets $1.49B boost as lawmakers aim to upgrade ‘ancient’ bridge
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Project received a major boost on Friday as lawmakers announced a $1.499 billion federal award for the project.
The project aims to provide seismic upgrades to the bridge, which is at risk of collapse in the event of a major quake, officials said — noting other upgrades could help relieve traffic congestion and help drive economic growth for the region.
The award brings the total federal investments for the project to $2.1 billion, which is about one-third of the estimated project costs.
“This is fantastic news for the state of Oregon,” said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. “This infusion of federal funds will promote regional and national economic growth and support local jobs and broader workforce opportunities. Building this multimodal bridge also moves us closer to meeting our state, regional and national goals of reducing carbon emissions and curbing the effects of climate change.”
The new funding was provided in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and comes after the project received a $600 million federal grant in December.
In February, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured the 107-year-old bridge with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and other elected leaders.
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Both governors previously urged the federal government to give them more than $2 billion for the project as Oregon and Washington are committing $1 billion each for a new bridge.
“Washington state and the Pacific Northwest are exceptionally grateful for the level of investment provided by this administration. Replacing the Interstate Bridge with a multimodal crossing is one of our highest priorities and ensures we’re building a modern bridge for modern times,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “We have been working tirelessly with our Oregon partners to demonstrate the bi-state commitment to get this done for the people of both states and the nation. We appreciate the tireless support of our congressional delegations and all the community partners collaborating in good faith.”
Washington Sen. Patty Murray noted that securing funding for the project has not been easy, however “failing to replace this bridge has never been an option to me because I know how important this is to Southwest Washington—despite being a major thoroughfare, the current bridge is ancient, unsafe, and a major source of congestion for commuters and commerce.”
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Washington Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez furthered that this funding marks a “major step” towards getting the bridge replaced.
“When we brought $600 million home to replace the deteriorating, functionally obsolete I-5 Bridge last year, I promised to keep fighting tooth and nail for every federal dollar possible. It’s the only way we get this colossal undertaking done – as well as ensure we feel the benefits of our tax dollars and avoid tolling,” said Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. “Today, we’re bringing back more than $1.4 billion for this project that’s critical for strengthening our local economy, honoring the trades, and keeping drivers, commuters, and truckers safe and on the move. I brought Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to the bridge to show him the dire need for replacement firsthand, as well as stressing the importance of this Bridge Investment Program grant whenever we spoke. We’re now one major step closer to getting the I-5 Bridge replaced and powering good, family-wage trades jobs in Southwest Washington.”
In a statement, Oregon Metro Council President Lynn Peterson praised the additional funding, saying inter-governmental efforts to replace the bridge were “paying off”.
“The support from the federal government shows that this project is important to both our region and our nation,” Peterson said. “The time is now to move forward on this critical project and replace the century-old drawbridge that currently links Portland and Vancouver. As we work to rebuild greater Portland’s economy, it’s investments like this that will pave the way for more jobs and growth in our region.”
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