Oregon will spend another $9 million to continue planning a new Interstate Bridge

(AUGUST 23, 2019) Many people want a new bridge between Portland and Vancouver. People say the current bridges on Interstate 5 are too small and too old. They cause slow traffic and accidents. They worry about earthquakes.

However, not everyone agrees how to fix the problem. In fact, people from Oregon, Washington, Portland, Vancouver, and the federal government talked about a new bridge for more than 10 years. The called it the Columbia River Crossing. They spent a lot of money. That included $140 million from the federal government.

Nothing happened. They could not agree on a plan. Also, the state of Washington did not provide money. No bridge was built. Many people gave up.

Now they are talking again. Oregon says it will spend $9 million to think again about a new bridge to Washington. If Oregon does not show progress soon, then the federal government will require the state to give back the money that it already spent.

The first bridge was built in 1917. The second bridge was built in 1958.