At times, it seems, the quest for a new Interstate 5 Bridge is akin to a school bake sale. Progress could be depicted on a fever chart, with financing for the bridge represented on a giant thermometer.
A significant chunk of that thermometer was filled in last week, with the U.S. Department of Transportation delivering a $600 million Mega Grant toward construction. The grant matches the full amount requested by Interstate Bridge Replacement Program officials, and it represents the first significant federal investment in the project.
Replacing the I-5 Bridge is expected to cost between $5 billion and $7.5 billion, with $6 billion considered the most likely amount. The Washington and Oregon legislatures each have committed $1 billion to the project, and both states have authorized tolling, which is expected to contribute between $1.1 billion and $1.6 billion.
All told, the project has secured $4 billion, and organizers are hoping that additional federal grants cover the remaining amount.
“Today marks a mega win for the state of Washington,” Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a statement. “Finally, the 100-year-old I-5 Bridge is getting a federal down payment.”
Cantwell, fellow Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez have all actively pushed for federal support for a new bridge. And with the project achieving a major milestone, it is an appropriate time for some reflection on the process thus far.
One thing that stands out is the role of a forward-thinking government. The Mega Grant program was introduced as part of a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal passed by Congress in 2021. The infrastructure law also created the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program, and local officials have applied for $1.5 billion from that fund.
This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration. As president, Donald Trump frequently declared “Infrastructure Week” but had little to show for it. With President Joe Biden in office, Congress actually passed legislation that invests in American communities and workers.
The latest news also stands in contrast to a decade ago, when an attempt to replace the bridge was scuttled in the Washington Legislature. Then-Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, led efforts to reject state funding for the project, and state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, also was a vocal opponent.
Meanwhile, there are inevitable comparisons to 40 years ago, when the Interstate 205 Bridge was constructed. Then, the U.S. government supplied 92 percent of the funding, but federal support for infrastructure projects has gradually and persistently diminished over the past four decades.
During that time, the cost of such projects has ballooned, greatly outpacing inflation for a variety of reasons.
Those growing costs are on display throughout the Interstate 5 corridor. Official estimates for the Columbia River Crossing project a decade ago were approximately $3 billion; now the price is twice that amount, and further delay would lead to additional increases.
Although the Mega Grant signals federal interest in the project, many questions remain. Designs have not been finalized, the clearance height of the bridge remains contentious, and debate is warranted about tolls and pricing.
But Friday’s announcement represents a major step forward while providing hope for additional federal investment. In other words, excitement over a proposed new Interstate 5 Bridge is heating up.
