Watch the full video interview with Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the bottom of this article
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — Just one day before the I-5 Bridge turns 107, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured the structure along with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and other elected leaders.
The bridge is at a high risk of collapse in an earthquake and both governors urged the federal government to give them more than $2 billion to help replace it. Past requests were turned down, but with both states committing $1 billion each for a new bridge, it may convince Buttigieg to have the Department of Transportation write a check.
“I know this came heartbreakingly close to happening a decade ago. And it didn’t because some of those pieces fell apart,” he said. “This time it’s going to succeed.”
Recently the f eds kicked in $600 million for preliminary work on a new bridge.
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