It’s been a long time since I’ve made the drive to Portland Oregon. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time going to and from Portland, I just remember driving over that I-5 bridge over the Columbia River and thinking, ah, this is a new place, very different from Seattle.
Now living in the Wenatchee Valley my choice of a Route to Portland is very different. These days I would head to Yakima, continue on Hwy 97 to Goldendale, cross the Columbia River near Maryhill and continue on Hwy 84 into Portland. If I don’t stop to charge up the car it’s about a 5-hour drive. (I need to stop and charge at least once.)
If I was living on the west side of the Cascades, it would be a whole other trip. I would just jump on I-5 and head South. Living in Seattle, the commute to Portland would be about 3 1/2 hours. But the one thing you will be encountering next year on your commute from Seattle to Portland is a toll on the current I 5 bridge.
According to seattletimes.com,
‘Tolling in both directions on the existing bridge will be one of the first things the public experiences once construction of a replacement bridge gets underway. It is also a critical source of funding to help cover the cost of the project, which could range from $5 billion to $7.5 billion.’
No decision has been made yet on what the toll would actually be. Currently they’re discussing a range anywhere from $1.55 to $4.70. Also, in discussion is to possibly make the toll even higher to just help pay for that bridge. I mean, you got a $7 billion loan you got to cover…