$15 BILLION Bridge? WA Lawmaker Calls for Major Project Reset

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project connecting Washington and Oregon could cost as much as $15.2 billion, and one Washington lawmaker is calling for a major reset of the massive I-5 Columbia River bridge project. Washington State Rep. John Ley of Vancouver is raising concerns about the cost, scope and funding of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, arguing Washington and Oregon should focus on building a simpler replacement bridge that taxpayers can actually afford. The official 2026 Interstate Bridge Replacement cost estimate now ranges from $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with the IBR program using $14.4 billion for financial planning. That's a dramatic increase from the project's 2020 conceptual estimate, which had a high end of $4.8 billion. The IBR program says the higher estimate reflects inflation, rising construction costs, schedule delays, project risks and changes to the scope and design of the five-mile Interstate 5 corridor between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. But Ley argues lawmakers need to reconsider how much of the massive project Washington and Oregon can actually afford to build. The full Interstate Bridge Replacement plan includes new Columbia River bridges, I-5 connections and interchange improvements, tolling infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and an extension of light rail from Portland into Vancouver. The IBR program currently reports approximately $5.7 billion in committed funding and says it can move forward with an initial funded phase while seeking additional money for other components of the project. Ley is calling for lawmakers from Washington and Oregon to reconsider the project's priorities and focus first on replacing the aging Interstate Bridge and connecting the new crossing to Interstate 5. He also raises questions about consulting costs, the project's construction timeline and whether the states can secure enough money to complete the broader plan. The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program says the full project is designed to create a modern, earthquake-resilient Columbia River crossing, improve safety and mobility, replace aging infrastructure and support transportation and economic activity between Washington and Oregon. The debate now centers on a major taxpayer question: How much bridge can Washington and Oregon afford? Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the $15 billion Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, I-5 bridge replacement, Columbia River crossing, Washington transportation spending, Oregon transportation spending, federal infrastructure funding, tolling, light rail, Rep. John Ley, Vancouver Washington, Portland Oregon and the growing debate over the cost of replacing the Interstate Bridge. #WashingtonState #Oregon #InterstateBridge #I5 #VancouverWA #Portland #TaxpayerMoney #Infrastructure #GovernmentSpending #Transportation #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus