Financing plans are being discussed for the new bridge that will link the states of Washington and Oregon in the North West of the US. Tolling could generate up to US$1.6 billion of the project to carry I-5 over the Colombia River.
Construction of the bridge is likely to cost $5-7.5 billion, with both states contributing $1 billion each and a further $2.1 billion expected from US Federal sources. The new I-5 bridge will connect Portland in Oregon with Vancouver in Washington State.
The new bridge is needed as the existing twin bridge is no longer fit for purpose. The first bridge across the Colombia River at this point opened in 1917, with the second carrying southbound traffic opening in 1958. Both bridges carry three lanes of traffic and the link handles around 130,000 vehicles/day at present but is no longer considered fit for purpose.
