Officials gathered near the Interstate Bridge that connects Washington to Oregon to celebrate the series of federal grant awards that have brought in approximately $2.1 billion over the past year.
Last year, the project was awarded $600 million from the Mega Grant program. Just last month, the project was awarded $1.5 billion from the Bridge Investment Program. Both programs fall under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said the funding will help the project begin the design and construction phase, which could start as early as 2026.
The replacement project has been on the table for decades, but the current effort happened in 2019. The project is estimated to cost $6 billion, with the federal funding covering a third of that.
Project officials have warned that the cost will likely be more due to costs rising. The team will give an updated estimate after the federal environmental review process.
Design work won’t begin until it gets federal approval. The design plans include a pair of replacement bridges, a light rail extension to Vancouver. It would also replace the bridge from Hayden Island to the Oregon mainland. Several freeway interchanges will also receive upgrades.
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Source: The Columbian, KGW 8
