Editing Interstate Bridge (section)

==Replacement planning==
===Columbia River Crossing (2005–2013)===
{{Main|Columbia River Crossing}}
The bridge is frequently a [[Bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]] which impacts both traffic on the freeway, as well as on the river. The [[Oregon Department of Transportation|Oregon]] and [[Washington State Department of Transportation|Washington]] transportation departments are jointly studying how to replace the bridge. Both spans have been rated as "[[National Bridge Inventory#Structural evaluation scale|functionally obsolete]]," with [[National Bridge Inventory#Issues and usage|sufficiency rating]]s of 18.3% and 49.4% for the original and second spans, respectively.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> Initially, the estimated cost for a replacement bridge was around $2&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Columbia bridge advice: Scrap the old, build new |last=Mayer |first=James |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=November 22, 2006}}</ref> but that number has climbed steadily to around $3.4 billion.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> An independent study in 2010 estimated the full cost to be closer to $10 billion.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In late 2006, four of these plans were selected for a final proposal, along with a fifth no-build option.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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&nbsp;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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}

In December 2007, Oregon governor [[Ted Kulongoski]] advocated for a new bridge, publicly endorsing the Oregon Business Plan's proposal.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
[[File:Interstate Bridge with Overhead Lights.jpg|alt=Work Lights on Interstate Bridge|thumb|Interstate Bridge in 2016 with additional illumination for late-night work crews.]]<!-- Biased source! See talk page section "Replacement section: biased source". December 2012.-->

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In June 2013, the Washington Legislature voted against further funding of the CRC.<ref name="oreg2013jul1"/> On June 29, Oregon Governor Kitzhaber directed the CRC to shut down operations.

===Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (2019–present)===
The relaunched Interstate Bridge Replacement Program is a joint effort between [[Oregon Department of Transportation|ODOT]], [[Washington State Department of Transportation|WSDOT]], [[Federal Highway Administration]], [[Federal Transit Administration]], Metro, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, the cities of Portland and Vancouver, the [[Port of Portland (Oregon)|Port of Portland]], and the [[Port of Vancouver USA]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Columbian-Again19">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Columbian-Again19"/> Former [[Michigan Department of Transportation]] deputy director Greg Johnson was appointed as the bridge program administrator in June 2020.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

{{As of|December 2022}}, the project is estimated to cost $5.5&nbsp;billion to $7.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The [[United States Coast Guard|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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