Yesterday, the Bi-State I-5 Bridge Committee and Oregon Joint Transportation Chairs join the chorus of voices celebrating the federal investment bringing us $600 million closer to completing the I-5 bridge replacement project. The funding comes from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021. The award is the highest amount yet awarded through the program and will go to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. Oregon and Washington jointly applied for the grant.
“A safe, seismically resilient, and multimodal transportation system means full, complete, connected communities,” said Representative Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro, Forest Grove and Cornelius), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “Thank you to Administrator Greg Johnson and the IBR team, and the Bi-State Legislative Committee, for their work to ensure we received the maximum funding available. This commitment from our federal partners demonstrates just how important the I-5 Bridge is to the infrastructure of the West Coast and the impact a healthy, functional Bridge has on the economy, the communities, and the industries that flourish on both sides of the river.”
“Oregonians deserve a seismically sound, equitable, and modern transportation system, and the I-5 Bridge is a critical part of that,” said Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “This grant gets us closer to a bridge that will support our region’s economy, families and workforce for generations to come.”
“This infusion of federal monies into the regional economy will help support tens of thousands of family-wage jobs through the program’s construction,” said Greg Johnson, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Administrator. “The importance of this investment by the federal government cannot be overstated, and the program is grateful for the ongoing support of our regional partners and elected leaders in both states.”
