The effort to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River has entered a period of mounting costs and uncertainty, leaving Oregon and Washington lawmakers increasingly frustrated as they attempt to balance infrastructure needs with fiscal responsibility. After years of planning and securing billions in state and federal commitments, the project remains bogged down in regulatory reviews and design debates, with no clear timeline for when construction will begin or how much the final bridge will cost.
The project, known as the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, aims to replace the pair of spans linking Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. The current structures, portions of which date back more than a century, no longer meet modern seismic standards and are viewed as highly vulnerable in the event of a major earthquake. In addition to safety concerns, the bridge has long been a bottleneck for freight movement and commuters traveling the busy north–south corridor along Interstate 5.
Cost projections have steadily climbed over the last several years. What was once forecast in the range of five to seven and a half billion dollars is now edging toward ten billion, according to updated analyses. Inflation in materials, labor shortages, and the complexity of integrating transit, pedestrian, and freight needs have all contributed to the rising estimates. With both Oregon and Washington already pledging a combined two billion dollars in state contributions and the federal government awarding grants worth hundreds of millions, the upward revisions are sharpening questions about how much additional funding can be secured and whether taxpayers could be asked to shoulder more of the burden…