Interstate Bridge

File:InterstateBridge1917.png

File:PC interstate-5 bridge cars ca1920.jpg tracks, period autos]]

Before a permanent crossing existed between Portland and Vancouver, there was an overcrowded ferry system operated by Pacific Railway, Light & Power Co.

Plans for the original bridge began as early as 1912, with local efforts leading to an initial survey and bond measures totaling $2,000,000; $1.5 million contributed from Portland, and $500,000 from Vancouver. Waddell & Harrington were retained as the project's consulting engineers.{{Cite journal |date=August 12, 1914 |title=The $1,750,000 Interstate Highway Bridge, Oregon and Washington |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E8I9AQAAMAAJ |journal=Engineering & Contracting |location=Chicago |publisher=Myron C. Clark Publishing Co. |volume=XLII |issue=7 |page=36 |access-date=June 6, 2021 |via=Google Books}} Construction on the bridge began in March 1915,{{Cite book |last=Holstine |first=Craig E. |title=Spanning Washington: Historic Highway Bridges of the Evergreen State |publisher=Washington State University Press |pages=103–104 |year=2005 |isbn=0-87422-281-8}} and the structure opened on February 14, 1917 at a final cost of $1.75 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.75|1917|r=0}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}}{{Inflation-fn|US}}), which was shared between Clark and Multnomah counties.{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Sharon |title=The Portland Bridge Book |edition=2nd |publisher=Oregon Historical Society |date=2001 |pages=73–78 |isbn=0-87595-211-9}} Clark County paid $500,000 and Multnomah County paid $1.25 million—probably proportional to population.Horner, John B. (1919). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland.

The first bridge has a total of 13 steel spans, with three measuring {{convert|275|ft|m|abbr=out}} in length and the remaining ten spans {{convert|265|ft|m|abbr=on}} each. Piers sit atop pile caps on wooden pilings approximately 70 feet deep.{{cite web

| title =Seismic Vulnerability

| work =Project Information

| publisher =Columbia River Crossing

| url =https://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/ProjectInformation/ResearchAndResults/SeismicVulnerability.aspx

| access-date =March 19, 2013

| archive-date =January 29, 2013

| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130129085606/https://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/ProjectInformation/ResearchAndResults/SeismicVulnerability.aspx

| url-status =dead

}} One of the {{convert|275|ft|m|adj=on}} spans is the lift span for allowing river traffic under the bridge. The lift span is capable of moving {{convert|136|ft|m|abbr=on}} vertically,{{cite book | last= Bottenberg | first= Ray | title = Bridges of Portland | publisher = Arcadia Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 78, 80| isbn= 978-0-7385-4876-0 }} and provides {{convert|176|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} of clearance below when fully raised. The towers are

{{convert|190|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} tall, above the roadway.

The original paved roadway was {{convert|38|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} wide and had a {{convert|5|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} wide sidewalk. It was the first automobile bridge across the river between Washington and Oregon, and the second to span the river at all, after the Wenatchee Bridge of 1908.{{cite book |last= Dorpat |first= Paul |author2=Genevieve McCoy |title= Building Washington: A History of Washington State Public Works |year= 1998 |publisher= Tartu Publications |isbn= 0-9614357-9-8 |pages= 111–112}} It was originally a toll bridge costing 5¢ per vehicle or per horse and rider, equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|0.05|1917|r=2}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}. In 1928 the states of Washington and Oregon jointly purchased the bridge from the counties and discontinued tolling the following year. The Oregon Department of Transportation became the lead agency responsible for the maintenance and operations of the structure.{{cite journal |date=August 20, 2009 |title=Asset Management: Bridge Assessment Annual Report |page=19 |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/bridge/preservation/GrayNotebookJun09-Bridges.pdf |journal=The Gray Notebook |issue=34 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=December 26, 2023 |archive-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226201114/https://wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/bridge/preservation/GrayNotebookJun09-Bridges.pdf |url-status=live }}

Electric streetcars operated across the bridge from opening day in 1917[https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-02-15/ed-1/seq-1/ "Columbia Span Is Formally Opened: Dream of Half Century Is Realized (subheadlines: Traffic Starts With Brilliant Ceremony on Bridge; Thousands Attend Affair)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608202611/https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1917-02-15/ed-1/seq-1/ |date=June 8, 2023 }}. (February 15, 1917). The Morning Oregonian, p. 1. until 1940. The bridge's deck carried dual gauge track, to accommodate both Vancouver's standard gauge cars and Portland's {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} gauge cars. Before the bridge, Portland had had a Vancouver streetcar line since 1893, but it ran to Hayden Island, where passengers transferred to a ferry owned by the street railway company to continue across the river to Vancouver.Thompson, Richard (2010). Portland's Streetcar Lines, pp. 72–73, 77. Arcadia Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-8126-2}}. Streetcar service across the Interstate Bridge ended on September 3, 1940.

The bridge became part of then-new Interstate 5 in 1957. It was previously part of U.S. Route 99 when that route was established in 1926.{{cite news |last1=Pesanti |first1=Dameon |title=Interstate Bridge turns 100: 'With Iron Bands,' a century spanned |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2017/feb/12/interstate-bridge-turns-100-with-iron-bands-a-century-spanned/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 7, 2021 |work=The Columbian |date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507191908/https://www.columbian.com/news/2017/feb/12/interstate-bridge-turns-100-with-iron-bands-a-century-spanned/ |url-status=live }}

File:SWIMMING POOL OF THUNDERBIRD MOTEL ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER WITHIN YARDS OF THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE CONNECTING WASHINGTON... - NARA - 548083.jpg

Plans to address congestion on the first Interstate Bridge, which carried over 30,000 vehicles per day by 1948, were drawn after World War II by highway officials in Oregon. The chief highway engineer, R. H. Baldock, proposed a second span over the Columbia River after it was determined that expanding the existing bridge was not feasible. Several sites were proposed and surveyed, but ultimately a twinned span west of the original bridge was chosen in September 1950 by Oregon and Washington. The proposed reinstatement of the toll led to a lawsuit that was heard by the Washington Supreme Court in September 1953 and decided in the states' favor.{{cite news |last=Seekamp |first=William |date=February 19, 2023 |title=Interstate Bridge: Second span revives tolls |url=https://projects.columbian.com/2023/02/19/interstate-bridge-second-span-revives-tolls/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=June 26, 2024 |archive-date=June 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612141650/https://projects.columbian.com/2023/02/19/interstate-bridge-second-span-revives-tolls/ |url-status=live }}

In 1958, a $14.5 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|14.5|1958|r=1}}}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) project created a second, almost identical span and doubled the capacity of the bridge. The new bridge was built with a "humpback" that provides {{convert|72|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} of vertical clearance and minimizes bridge openings. Construction began in summer 1956,{{Cite news |author= |title=Construction of New Interstate Bridge Near Start |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=July 17, 1956 |page=1}}{{Cite news |author= |title=Piers Poured Under Water; Contractors to Try New Method in Construction of Interstate Bridge |newspaper=The Sunday Oregonian |date=September 2, 1956 |page=16}} and the new, parallel bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1958.{{Cite news |last=Hauser |first=Paul |title=Rites Open {{not a typo|2d}} Bridge Over River |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=July 2, 1958 |page=1}}

At the time the new bridge was opened, the old one was temporarily closed for rebuilding to give it a matching humpback section. When both bridges were first open concurrently, on January 8, 1960,{{cite news|author=|title=Twin Interstate Spans Open to Travel Friday|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=January 8, 1960|page=1}} each bridge became one-way (the new bridge for southbound traffic and the old one for northbound traffic) and tolls were reinstated at $0.20 for cars, $0.40 for light trucks, and $0.60 for heavy trucks and buses. The tolls were removed in 1966 after the construction expenses were paid off.{{Cite news |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/i5_bridge_tolls_divide_portlan.html |title=I-5 bridge tolls divide Portland, Vancouver |last=Rivera |first=Dylan |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=August 9, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2011 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609160500/http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/i5_bridge_tolls_divide_portlan.html |url-status=dead }}

A $3 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3|1990|r=1}}}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) upgrade to the lift cables, expansion joints, and a deck repaving was completed in 1990. The diesel generator used to power the lift was replaced in 1995 at a cost of $150,000. In 1999, the bridge was repainted at a cost of $17 million. A $10.8 million electrical upgrade was completed in mid-May 2005.{{cite web |publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation |title=Interstate Bridges Electrical Upgrade |url=https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/interstate_bridges_elec/index.shtml |access-date=July 13, 2011}} The damaged trunnion on the northbound bridge was replaced in September 1997, requiring a full shutdown of I-5 for six days; the project was completed ahead of the original schedule, which anticipated a 21-day closure.{{cite news |date=September 22, 1997 |title=It's full speed ahead for I-5 bridge traffic |pages=A1, A11 |work=The Oregonian}} A temporary commuter train was operated by Amtrak from Union Station in Portland and Vancouver station during peak hours.{{cite news |last=Mize |first=Jeffery |date=November 30, 2019 |title=Clark Asks: Why can't Amtrak be used to commute to Portland from Vancouver? |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/nov/30/clark-asks-why-cant-amtrak-be-used-to-commute-to-portland-from-vancouver/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=January 14, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115064745/https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/nov/30/clark-asks-why-cant-amtrak-be-used-to-commute-to-portland-from-vancouver/ |url-status=live }} The free trains had ten round trips and drew an average of 1,335 passengers per day; the low ridership was attributed to the isolated location of Vancouver's station.{{cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Don |date=September 17, 1997 |title=Amtrak commutes take on cruise aura |page=A12 |work=The Oregonian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-amtrak-commutes-take-on-cr/163880820/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 24, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Oliver |first=Gordon |date=September 23, 1997 |title=Closure of I-5 bridge demonstrates transit's value |page=A1 |work=The Oregonian}} The northbound bridge's trunnion was replaced in 2020 with all traffic carried on the southbound bridge, arranged into two lanes in the peak direction controlled by a zipper machine.{{cite news |last=Heffernan |first=Jack |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Day 1 of I-5 Bridge trunnion replacement project mostly on track |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/sep/19/day-1-of-i-5-bridge-trunnion-replacement-project-mostly-on-track/ |work=The Columbian |url-access=limited |accessdate=January 14, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115064746/https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/sep/19/day-1-of-i-5-bridge-trunnion-replacement-project-mostly-on-track/ |url-status=live }}

The bridge is {{convert|3538|ft|m}} long with a main span of {{convert|531|ft|m}}.{{cite book |first1=Dwight A. |last1=Smith |last2=Norman |first2=James B. |author2-link=James B. Norman |last3=Dykman |first3=Pieter T. |title=Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon |publisher=Oregon Historical Society Press |year=1989 |isbn=0-87595-205-4 |page=209}} The vertical lift provides {{convert|176|ft|m|1}} of river clearance when fully opened. Openings last about ten minutes and occur between 20 and 30 times per month,{{Cite report |author=I-5 Partnership |title=Regional Economic Effects of the I-5 Corridor: Columbia River Crossing Transportation Choke Points |url=https://www.i-5partnership.com/reports/RegionalEffects_r1.2.pdf |access-date=March 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317065550/https://www.i-5partnership.com/reports/RegionalEffects_r1.2.pdf |archive-date=March 17, 2009}} or around 300 per year.{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Peter |title=Interstate Bridge shows its age |url=https://www.portlandtribune.com/news/interstate-bridge-shows-its-age/article_c9a5bdc4-4308-11ee-91aa-079cd8c |access-date=August 31, 2023 |newspaper=Portland Tribune |date=August 25, 2023 }}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

File:Interstate Br lift span raised, barge passing under.jpg

File:Interstate Bridge.jpg

Outside peak commuting times (6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m), marine traffic is granted right of way at the bridge by federal law (33 CFR 117.869).{{Cite news |last=Albrecht |first=Bob |title=High river levels prompt bridge lifts |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/02/high-river-levels-prompt-bridge-lifts/ |access-date=January 24, 2013 |newspaper=The Columbian |date=June 2, 2011 |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210145804/http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/02/high-river-levels-prompt-bridge-lifts/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Columbia River, Vancouver, WA |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/08/31/2012-21535/drawbridge-operation-regulation-columbia-river-vancouver-wa |publisher=Federal Register |access-date=January 24, 2013 |archive-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930120010/https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/08/31/2012-21535/drawbridge-operation-regulation-columbia-river-vancouver-wa |url-status=live }}

In 2006, the six total lanes of the bridges carried 130,000 vehicles daily. Full traffic capacity occurs four hours every day.

The Interstate Bridge's name is a simple descriptive one based on its location, as a bridge connecting two states. In 1917, the new bridge gave its name to a Portland arterial street. Shortly before the bridge opened, a pair of streets through North Portland that were planned to be treated as the main route to and from the bridge, Maryland Avenue and Patton Avenue, were renamed Interstate Avenue.{{Cite news |url=http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-12-07/ed-1/seq-13/ |title=Street Name Changed: Maryland and Patton Avenue become Interstate Avenue |date=December 7, 1916 |newspaper=The Morning Oregonian |page=13 |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914121510/http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-12-07/ed-1/seq-13/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Columbia River Crossing}}

The bridge is frequently a bottleneck which impacts both traffic on the freeway, as well as on the river. The Oregon and Washington transportation departments are jointly studying how to replace the bridge. Both spans have been rated as "functionally obsolete," with sufficiency ratings of 18.3% and 49.4% for the original and second spans, respectively.{{Cite web |title=NBI Structure Number: 000000PR0000000 |work=National Bridge Inventory Database |date=2012 |url=http://www.nationalbridges.com/index.php?option=com_lqm&ea81bdf3aad6a55c4df0dd0eeab8ccd4=1&task=showResults&query=8&lqm_id=678741&&format=raw&&Itemid=2 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210145803/http://www.nationalbridges.com/index.php?option=com_lqm&ea81bdf3aad6a55c4df0dd0eeab8ccd4=1&task=showResults&query=8&lqm_id=678741&&format=raw&&Itemid=2 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=NBI Structure Number: 0005216A0000000 |work=National Bridge Inventory Database |date=2012 |url=http://www.nationalbridges.com/index.php?option=com_lqm&ea81bdf3aad6a55c4df0dd0eeab8ccd4=1&task=showResults&query=8&lqm_id=679359&&format=raw&&Itemid=2 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210145804/http://www.nationalbridges.com/index.php?option=com_lqm&ea81bdf3aad6a55c4df0dd0eeab8ccd4=1&task=showResults&query=8&lqm_id=679359&&format=raw&&Itemid=2 |url-status=dead }} Initially, the estimated cost for a replacement bridge was around $2 billion,{{Cite news |title=Columbia bridge advice: Scrap the old, build new |last=Mayer |first=James |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=November 22, 2006}} but that number has climbed steadily to around $3.4 billion.{{Cite news |title=Charge tolls first, then maybe build a bridge, Metro councilors say |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211954106178540.xml&coll=7 |last=Rivera |first=Dylan |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=May 28, 2008 |access-date=May 29, 2008 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609160510/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211954106178540.xml&coll=7 |url-status=dead }} An independent study in 2010 estimated the full cost to be closer to $10 billion.{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Joseph |title=New study warns Columbia River Crossing could cost $10 billion |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/10/new_study_warns_columbia_river.html |access-date=January 24, 2013 |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=October 15, 2010 |archive-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112205756/http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/10/new_study_warns_columbia_river.html |url-status=live }}

Design of a replacement (especially a fixed-span bridge) is complicated by the existence of a railroad drawbridge crossing the Columbia a short distance downriver (on the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 9.6), which constrains the location of the shipping channel; and by approach paths to Portland International Airport in Portland and to Pearson Field in Vancouver, which limit the height of any new structure. Some have proposed replacing the bridge in a different location. There were originally 12 transportation plans that were being studied to improve and expand the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River.{{Cite web |publisher=Columbia River Crossing |title=Preliminary Alternative Packages |url=http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/AlternativePackages/PreliminaryAltPack.aspx |access-date=November 5, 2006 |archive-date=November 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114115443/http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/AlternativePackages/PreliminaryAltPack.aspx |url-status=dead }} In late 2006, four of these plans were selected for a final proposal, along with a fifth no-build option.{{Cite web |url=http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/CurrentTopics/ProjectAlternatives.aspx |title=State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Transportation |access-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821115118/http://columbiarivercrossing.org/CurrentTopics/ProjectAlternatives.aspx |url-status=dead }} The Columbia River Crossing project's six local partner agencies selected a replacement I-5 bridge and light rail extension to Clark College as the project's Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) in 2008.{{Cite web |url=http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/CurrentTopics/LPA.aspx |title=State of Oregon: Oregon Department of Transportation |access-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821115638/http://columbiarivercrossing.org/CurrentTopics/LPA.aspx |url-status=dead }}

There is also a longstanding debate as to whether or not a new bridge would include a MAX Light Rail line, express buses, or bus rapid transit. During his 2007 "State of the City" address, Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard stated {{cquote|I've said it before, but it bears repeating – Vancouver and Clark County residents have the cheapest buy-in to one of the most successful light-rail systems in the world, the MAX system. There is over $5 billion invested in light rail across the river. We can tap into that system at a very minimal cost. We’d be foolish not to. The bi-state Columbia River Crossing initiative is making plans for the future of our community for 50 years and beyond. This project should not happen without integrating light rail that comes into downtown Vancouver. If the final alternative doesn’t have a light rail component, I will not support it.{{Cite web |title=State of the City |publisher=City of Vancouver |date=January 23, 2007 |url=http://www.cityofvancouver.us/stateofcity.asp?menuid=10462&submenuid=21343 |access-date=2007-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015033919/http://www.cityofvancouver.us/stateofcity.asp?menuid=10462&submenuid=21343 |archive-date=October 15, 2006}}}}

In December 2007, Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski advocated for a new bridge, publicly endorsing the Oregon Business Plan's proposal.{{Cite news |title=Ore.: Governor urges new bridge |last=McCall |first=William

|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5350302.html |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |date=December 4, 2007 }}

In 2008, as fuel prices increased and project cost estimates soared, many in the area began questioning whether the project is worth the costs. In addition, many on the Portland side of the river fear that a 12-lane highway bridge to Vancouver, which many also believe has virtually no land use restrictions, will encourage suburban sprawl and development north of the river.{{Cite news |title=Bridge to Disaster |url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=723304&category=34029 |newspaper=The Portland Mercury |date=March 19, 2008 |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=May 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517104213/http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=723304&category=34029 |url-status=live }}

File:Interstate Bridge with Overhead Lights.jpg

Further concerns over the 12-lane "Columbia River Crossing" (CRC) proposal include its failure to examine critical environmental impacts, such as damage to Clark County's drinking water supply, endangered fish habitat in the Columbia, and air pollution in North Portland.

In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency found that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the CRC had failed to adequately cover these issues, as well as the potential induced demand for suburban sprawl. In a letter to CRC planners, the EPA wrote that "There was no indication (in the CRC environmental impact statement) of how these vulnerable populations might be impacted by air pollution, noise, diesel construction vehicles and increased traffic", referring to minority communities in North Portland.{{Cite news |last=Reed |first=Len |title=I-5 bridge impacts on pollution, growth unexamined |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=July 10, 2008 |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/epa_i5_bridge_impacts_on_pollu.html |access-date=July 13, 2011 |archive-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519124543/http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/epa_i5_bridge_impacts_on_pollu.html |url-status=live }}

In June 2013, the Washington Legislature voted against further funding of the CRC. On June 29, Oregon Governor Kitzhaber directed the CRC to shut down operations.

The relaunched Interstate Bridge Replacement Program is a joint effort between ODOT, WSDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Metro, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, the cities of Portland and Vancouver, the Port of Portland, and the Port of Vancouver USA.{{Cite web |title=I-5 - Interstate Bridge Replacement Program |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-5-interstate-bridge-replacement-program |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=October 14, 2022}}

The Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee was formed by the Washington legislature in 2017 to study a bridge replacement, but initially had no Oregon representation for a year.{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Jake |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Panel aims to span I-5 dilemma |page=A1 |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2017/dec/14/panel-minus-oregon-representation-begins-work-to-bridge-i-5-issue/ |work=The Columbian |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721025538/https://www.columbian.com/news/2017/dec/14/panel-minus-oregon-representation-begins-work-to-bridge-i-5-issue/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Jake |date=December 7, 2018 |title=Oregon to join in Interstate 5 Bridge replacement talks |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/dec/07/oregon-joins-interstate-5-bridge-replacement-talks/ |work=The Columbian |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721030501/https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/dec/07/oregon-joins-interstate-5-bridge-replacement-talks/ |url-status=live }} The new committee was formed to prevent $140 million in federal funding allocated for the CRC from being recalled after a deadline, which was extended to 2025.{{Cite news |last=Mize |first=Jeffery |date=September 24, 2019 |title=Washington, Oregon get another 5 years on I-5 Bridge funds |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/sep/24/washington-oregon-get-another-5-years-on-i-5-bridge-funds/ |work=The Columbian |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721025710/https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/sep/24/washington-oregon-get-another-5-years-on-i-5-bridge-funds/ |url-status=live }} In April 2019, the Washington legislature approved $17.5 million to establish a project office to conduct pre-design and planning work, which was followed by a matching contribution from the Oregon Transportation Commission in August.{{Cite news |last=Mize |first=Jeffrey |date=October 13, 2019 |title=New I-5 Bridge project: Here we go, again...again |page=A1 |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/oct/13/new-i-5-bridge-project-here-we-go-again-again/ |work=The Columbian |access-date=July 20, 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Theen |first=Andrew |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Oregon will spend $9 million on new Interstate Bridge project |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2019/08/oregon-will-spend-9-million-on-new-interstate-bridge-project.html |work=The Oregonian |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712223942/https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2019/08/oregon-will-spend-9-million-on-new-interstate-bridge-project.html |url-status=live }}

A new timeline for the project, with the start of environmental review in 2020 and construction by 2025, was approved by the joint committee in late 2019.{{Cite news |last=Theen |first=Andrew |date=September 24, 2019 |title=Oregon and Washington: We'll start building a new Interstate Bridge by 2025 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2019/09/oregon-and-washington-well-start-building-a-new-interstate-bridge-by-2025.html |work=The Oregonian |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709201456/https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2019/09/oregon-and-washington-well-start-building-a-new-interstate-bridge-by-2025.html |url-status=live }} The replacement bridge's design is unspecified, with discussions about the inclusion of light rail, lane configurations, and investigating a third crossing all under consideration. Former Michigan Department of Transportation deputy director Greg Johnson was appointed as the bridge program administrator in June 2020.{{Cite press release |date=June 11, 2020 |title=ODOT and WSDOT name key leader to head the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/06/11/odot-and-wsdot-name-key-leader-head-interstate-bridge-replacement-program |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=July 20, 2020}}{{Cite web |last1=Monahan |first1=Rachel |last2=Mesh |first2=Aaron |date=June 29, 2022 |title=U.S. Coast Guard Says Planned Bridge Across Columbia River Is 60 Feet Too Low |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/06/29/us-coast-guard-says-planned-bridge-across-columbia-river-is-60-feet-too-low/ |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=Willamette Week |language=en |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630153652/https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/06/29/us-coast-guard-says-planned-bridge-across-columbia-river-is-60-feet-too-low/ |url-status=live }} Several alternative ideas have been proposed, including an immersed tube tunnel, a third bridge, and a bascule bridge favored by the U.S. Coast Guard, but have been rejected for their drawbacks and cost.{{Cite news |last=Seekamp |first=William |date=September 18, 2022 |title=Why alternative Interstate 5 Bridge replacement ideas won't work |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/sep/18/why-alternative-interstate-5-bridge-replacement-ideas-wont-work/ |work=The Columbian |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925070434/https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/sep/18/why-alternative-interstate-5-bridge-replacement-ideas-wont-work/ |url-status=live }}

{{As of|December 2022}}, the project is estimated to cost $5.5 billion to $7.5 billion.{{cite news |last=Seekamp |first=William |date=December 9, 2022 |title=New I-5 Bridge cost: Likely $6 Billion |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/dec/09/new-i-5-bridge-cost-likely-6-billion/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=December 10, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210002013/https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/dec/09/new-i-5-bridge-cost-likely-6-billion/ |url-status=live }} The locally preferred alternative selected in 2022 is an eight-lane bridge with a light rail guideway on the west side and several modified interchanges.{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Isabella |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Interstate Bridge Engineers Propose Eight Lane Design with Light Rail |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2022/05/05/41921706/interstate-bridge-engineers-propose-eight-lane-design-with-light-rail |work=Portland Mercury |accessdate=December 10, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210085422/https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2022/05/05/41921706/interstate-bridge-engineers-propose-eight-lane-design-with-light-rail |url-status=live }} The U.S. Coast Guard requested an alternative design with a drawbridge to preserve the clearance for river traffic, which would be lowered by {{convert|60|ft|m}} if the locally preferred alternative was built.{{cite news |last1=Macuk |first1=Anthony |title=Interstate Bridge replacement costs and project scale come into focus as Oregon considers how to fund it |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/interstate-bridge-replacement-costs-scale-oregon-considers-funding/283-81f3174e-819a-4753-9145-907c6bba854d |access-date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=KGW |date=April 26, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629184608/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/interstate-bridge-replacement-costs-scale-oregon-considers-funding/283-81f3174e-819a-4753-9145-907c6bba854d |url-status=live }} Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. Tolls will be implemented on the Oregon side of the existing bridge to help fund the new bridge as it is being built.{{cite news |last1=Macuk |first1=Anthony |title=Interstate Bridge tolling timeline takes shape with planned 2026 start |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/interstate-bridge-tolling-timeline/283-6fbeff0f-5392-4b31-a723-8c7105b56670 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=KGW |date=October 20, 2023 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108095002/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/interstate-bridge-tolling-timeline/283-6fbeff0f-5392-4b31-a723-8c7105b56670 |url-status=live }}

{{Wide image|Interstate Br wide.jpg|500px|The full bridge as seen from Hayden Island, showing the 1959-built "humped" section mid-span.}}

• {{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
• {{Portal-inline|Oregon}}
• {{Portal-inline|Transport}}
• {{Portal-inline|United States}}
• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Washington (state)
• List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Interstate Bridge}}

• {{HAER |survey=WA-86 |id=wa0427 |title=Vancouver–Portland Interstate Bridge, Interstate Route 5 Spanning Columbia River, Vancouver, Clark County, WA |photos=7 |data=30 |cap=1}}
• [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/CulRes/bridges.htm#VancouverPortland WSDOT:Interstate Bridge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313195120/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/CulRes/bridges.htm#VancouverPortland |date=March 13, 2018 }}
• [https://www.interstatebridge.org/ Interstate Bridge Replacement program: Home page of ODOT/WSDOT project to replace the Interstate Bridge]

{{Bridges of Portland, Oregon}}

{{Crossings navbox

|structure = Crossings

|place = Columbia River

|bridge = Interstate Bridge

|bridge signs = 20px

|upstream = Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge

|upstream signs = 25px

|downstream = Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 9.6

|downstream signs = BNSF Railway

}}

{{Hayden Island, Portland, Oregon}}

Category:1917 establishments in Oregon

Category:1917 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Bridges completed in 1917

Category:Bridges completed in 1958

Category:Bridges in Portland, Oregon

Category:Bridges in Vancouver, Washington

Category:Bridges over the Columbia River

Category:Drawbridges on the National Register of Historic Places

Category:Former toll bridges in Oregon

Category:Former toll bridges in Washington (state)

Category:Hayden Island, Portland, Oregon

Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Washington (state)

Category:Interstate 5

Category:Interstate vehicle bridges in the United States

Category:Movable bridges on the Interstate Highway System

Category:North Portland, Oregon

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Clark County, Washington

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon

Category:Parker truss bridges in the United States

Category:Pedestrian bridges on the Interstate Highway System

Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon

Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)

Category:Steel bridges in the United States

Category:U.S. Route 99

Category:Vertical lift bridges in Oregon

Category:Vertical lift bridges in Washington (state)