US EditionNew I-5 bridge replacement cost now estimated at $15B
- On Tuesday, the IBR Executive Steering Group posted the latest full cost estimate online, and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said construction will begin in 2028 with a contractor expected in 2027.
- Officials attribute the jump to inflation and market conditions, with inflation and risk accounting for around 45% of costs, while IBR project managers cite a two-year federal environmental review delay and rising construction and engineering bids.
- Funding documents note the core replacement cost is about $7.8 billion while the five-mile corridor estimate ranges $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, likely $14.4 billion.
- Daily commuters face tolling plans starting as early as late 2026 with rates set between $1.50 t and $4.70, projections up to $3, affecting over 140,000 vehicles daily.
- After Coast Guard approval, officials note the fixed‑span bridge design approved in January will save about $1.7 billion, environmental reviews for the first phase are due by mid-2026, and completion is pushed to the mid‑2040s.
12 Articles
12 Articles
OPB’s First Look: A troubled bridge over water
Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.Good morning, Northwest.The anticipated cost of a new Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington has more than doubled, according to estimates released yesterday.OPB’s Erik Neumann looks into the mix of financial forces plaguing the replacement bridge and infrastructure projects nationwide to start today’s newsletter.In other news, Godzilla is coming to…
Leaders update timeline for I-5 Bridge replacement, say first phase could be open to drivers by 2034
Construction of a replacement Interstate 5 Bridge will unfold in phases, given that the project has less than $5.5 billion in hand to cover a cost expected to exceed $13 billion. Read more...
Cost for I‑5 replacement bridge soars as WA, OR push to begin construction in 2028
Oregon and Washington officials released a new cost estimate for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, putting the price anywhere between $7.8 billion and $15.2 billion. The two states currently have $5.5 billion in state and federal funding committed to the project. At a news conference in Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with a contractor expected to be se…
The Center Square
Gov announces start of I-5 bridge project that GOP lawmaker slams as 'Outrageous Boondoggle'
(The Center Square) - Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday that construction on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project across the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington will begin in 2028.
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