Editing Interstate Bridge (section)

===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.}}