I-5 Bridge Replacement Program Reaches Procurement Phase
The long-delayed Interstate 5 bridge replacement between Portland and Vancouver has cleared its biggest regulatory hurdle and is now entering the contractor selection phase, with major implications for the region’s construction pipeline over the next several years.
The $14.4 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement Program completed its federal environmental review this summer, unlocking approval to move forward with the full scope of the project — including light rail into downtown Vancouver, though Washington officials still need to secure funding for their share.
The program is now running a Request for Qualifications process to shortlist design-build firms, with a submission deadline of September 30. A formal Request for Proposals will follow, with a design-builder selection expected by mid-2027. Design work would begin immediately after selection, with construction targeted to start in 2028.
The scope of the first phase includes replacing the existing spans — one built in 1917, the other in 1958 — with two new single-level, fixed-span bridges featuring three through lanes and an auxiliary lane in each direction, plus safety shoulders designed for bus-on-shoulder service and decking that can accommodate future light rail and a shared-use path.
For Oregon and Washington contractors, the RFQ shortlist will be worth watching closely: a project of this size typically cascades into years of subcontracting opportunities well beyond the prime contractor, from earthwork and marine construction to specialty trades on connecting infrastructure at Hayden Island and State Route 14.
Sources:
- ENR, “Oregon-Washington I-5 Bridge Project Moves Towards Construction” — https://www.enr.com/articles/63520-oregon-washington-i-5-bridge-project-moves-toward-construction
- OPB, “Interstate Bridge Program announces milestone” — https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/01/interstate-5-bridge-federal-approval-oregon-washington/
