Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Secures $1.5 Billion GrantInterstate Bridge Replacement Project Secures $1.5 Billion Grant The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBRP) between Washington and Oregon has received approximately $1.5 billion from the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program. This funding will jumpstart the first phase of the project, which involves replacing the aging Interstate Bridge. The new bridge will be a “seismically resilient, multimodal solution,” according to the IBRP. It will replace the existing steel vertical lift bridges, which were built in 1917 and 1958. The recent grant adds to the $600 million previously announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, bringing the total federal funding to over $2 billion. Together with $1 billion from each state, the total project cost now exceeds $4 billion. The project also includes highway expansions and connections on both sides of the Columbia River. Pre-construction is expected to begin soon, with a projected construction start date of 2026. The bridge replacement is still in the design phase, with several options being considered, including four single-level designs, one two-level scheme, and a movable steel girder concept. The current Interstate Bridge connects Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, carrying heavy traffic on Interstate 5.
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBRP) program between the US states of Washington and Oregon received approximately 1.5 billion dollars from the Bridge Investment Program of the US Federal Highway Administration. According to local media, this program will help to start the first major phase of the project: replacing the Interstate Bridge.
A rendering of a single-level bridge, one of the designs being considered to replace the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. (Image: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program)
The IBRP said the structure will be replaced with a “new seismically resilient, multimodal solution”.
The recent grant is in addition to the $600 million in funding announced earlier this year by the federal government’s Department of Transportation.
The more than $2 billion from U.S. agencies, plus $1 billion from each state, brings the total raised to more than $4 billion.
The entire Interstate Bridge project is expected to cost more than $6 billion and will ultimately consist of highway expansions and connections on the Oregon and Washington sides.
With more than half of the projected total allocated, pre-construction for the bridge replacement is expected to begin soon. However, the program is still in the design phase, with four different single-level designs, one two-level scheme, and a movable steel girder concept being considered.
Information about the contractor and subcontractor is not yet available. Construction is expected to start in 2026.
The Interstate Bridge connects the cities of Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, via a six-lane stretch of U.S. Interstate 5. It is actually two nearly identical steel vertical lift, Parker through-truss bridges, one opened in 1917 and the other in 1958.
A rendering of the design of a movable steel girder bridge for the Washington-Oregon Interstate Bridge Replacement Project. (Image: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program)
