I-5 Bridge Replacement Faces Critical September 30 Federal Funding Deadline — Here’s What Has to Happen Before Then

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program between Portland and Vancouver is facing a variety of headwinds — including rising material and labor costs, challenging budget climates in both Oregon and Washington, and a federal administration that has at times been hostile to Democratic-led states — with construction now planned to begin sometime in 2026 pending several critical hurdles including final design decisions. Engineers are currently evaluating four bridge designs — including a single versus double level bridge, and a fixed span versus a lift span — while project leaders continue to work through the tension over light rail, which is baked into a legally binding agreement between the two states and required under federal environmental rules, meaning that cutting it won’t be straightforward even as costs surge. The program faces a hard September 30, 2026 deadline to meet key federal requirements and secure $927 million in federal Bridge Investment Program funds — making the next 100 days one of the most consequential periods in the project’s decades-long history. Program coordinator Greg Johnson has said the team will “start where we start” and look for additional funding sources to address rising costs — signaling a pragmatic, phased approach rather than waiting for full funding certainty before breaking ground. Tax Credit Advisor + 2

Source URL: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/11/interstate-bridge-replacement-oregon-washington-rising-cost/