I-5 Tolls Coming Summer 2028: What It Means for Oregon-Washington Contractors

June 14, 2026

For the tens of thousands of contractors who regularly cross the Columbia River to work on both sides of the state line, a new cost of doing business is coming — and the clock is ticking.

The Oregon and Washington Transportation Commissions have confirmed that tolls are coming to the Interstate Bridge beginning in the summer of 2028, in preparation for construction on the Interstate Bridge Replacement project. Final toll rates will not be set until late 2027. ClarkCountyToday

The commissions recently heard four potential toll rate plans based on today’s dollars. Depending on which plan is adopted, tolls could range from as low as $1.55 during non-peak hours to as high as $4.70 at peak times. Some plans include annual escalation of 2.15 percent, while the most expensive proposal calls for a 3 percent increase every two years. ClarkCountyToday

A financial analysis released in May 2026 projects that tolls ranging from $2 off-peak to $4.70 during rush hour would allow the project to borrow $1.72 billion — though that still falls short of the project’s funding gap. Some critics warn the ceiling could be considerably higher. Washington state law ties the maximum allowable IBR toll to the highest toll permitted in the state, which recently increased to $15 per crossing — a ceiling one lawmaker warned could eventually be used. Wweek The Center Square

What this means for contractors working across state lines

For a contractor licensed in both Oregon and Washington — whether a general running a Portland-based crew to a Clark County job site, or a Vancouver subcontractor pulling work south of the river — the math adds up fast.

At even the mid-range toll scenarios, a crew vehicle making a round trip at peak hours could pay $8–$9 per crossing, per day. A crew of three trucks on a two-month project in the other state could represent hundreds of dollars in unanticipated overhead. Importantly, drivers will be tolled on the existing old bridge to help pay for the new one — meaning tolling begins years before any new infrastructure opens. The Center Square

There’s also a business planning consideration: the IBR program uses variable priced tolling, meaning rates change depending on time of day, which gives contractors some ability to manage costs by scheduling non-peak crossings where job timelines allow. City of Vancouver

Bidding implications

Contractors who regularly bid work across the Columbia River corridor should begin accounting for tolling costs in project estimates now, particularly on longer-duration projects that span into or beyond 2028. Key factors to consider:

How many vehicle crossings per project? Count each truck, each crew vehicle, each materials run.
Peak vs. off-peak scheduling. Can deliveries or crew arrivals shift to off-peak windows to hit lower toll tiers?
Escalation. With rates likely increasing annually after launch, multi-year projects will see rising crossing costs over time.
Bid language. Consider whether cross-river toll costs should be itemized as a project expense rather than absorbed into overhead.

Upcoming contractor opportunities

One silver lining: the IBR project is already generating contracting work. A pre-completion tolling signage contract — a 9.5-month, $4–6 million design-bid-build job spanning both Oregon and Washington — is scheduled for advertisement in 2026. The scope includes installation of all static and electronic toll-related signage and infrastructure needed to support toll collection prior to the completion of the full IBR system. Interstatebridge

Final toll rates and policies will be set jointly by the Oregon and Washington Transportation Commissions approximately eight months before tolling begins. Contractors can submit written public comment to the bi-state subcommittee at info@bistatesubcommittee.org.