I-5 Bridge projects advance as Metro approves another $1.9B in program spending

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Stakeholders behind the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement have committed to spending another $1.9 billion on the program.

On Thursday, July 24, the Oregon Metro Council approved a resolution allocating additional funding to three phases of the project — including two new ones. Funding for the pre-existing phase of the program, which entails pre-construction engineering and “right-of-way” acquisition, has now increased from $103 million to more than $554 million.

One of the newly-approved phases comes with a $22 million price tag, and will include the installation of signage, electrical systems and other structures for tolling enforcement. The second new phase will “support the construction of two new bridges to accommodate highway, transit and active transportation mode,” costing nearly $1.5 billion in funds.

In total, the program is expected to cost between $5 billion and $7.5 billion. While leadership initially estimated that construction would begin any time between late 2025 and early 2026, the deadline has been unclear due to several program snags — like the uncertainty of federal funding. Metro council members also expressed concern with the uncertainty of the low income tolling system, and how pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users would be able to access shared spaces along the bridge.

But some local leaders, like Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, have urged stakeholders to take action as soon as possible.

“Every day this project is delayed, it costs an additional $1 million,” McEnerny-Ogle said during her testimony. “So if [Program Administrator Greg Johnson] tells us that we need to be in the water by 2027 and we miss that window because the salmon are coming through, we are looking at a full year delay, and that’s another $365 million that we can’t afford.”

Several other testifiers urged councilors to approve the resolution, noting safety concerns with the current I-5 bridge and the replacement program’s potential impacts on the local economy.

Councilor Mary Nolan was the only to vote against the resolution. According to her, stakeholders are now distancing themselves from the “values and needs” of the program.