Kris Strickler is the director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Comments can be directed to 888-Ask-ODOT or Ask.ODOT@odot.state.or.us

Just last month, the Oregon State Legislature committed $1 billion to replace the aging Interstate Bridge on I-5 with a multimodal solution that will serve people walking, biking, rolling, and driving.

This funding commitment is an important step to move this critical infrastructure program forward right now, positively impacting our region’s transportation system and economy for generations.

Oregon’s $1 billion commitment matches the State of Washington’s funding contribution passed last year. We would not have been successful in obtaining Oregon’s contribution without the tireless support of key Oregon legislators this session.

Both state legislatures have played an instrumental role in moving the Interstate Bridge Replacement program forward and will continue to provide ongoing leadership and guidance as we move toward construction, anticipated to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.

Originally built in 1917, the Interstate Bridge is a vital transportation corridor for I-5. It connects Oregon and Washington communities and serves our regional, national, and international economies. With one span over 100 years old, it is at risk of collapse in the event of a major earthquake and no longer serves the needs of the more than 140,000 people that cross the bridge each weekday.

If the Interstate Bridge collapsed, emergency services and supplies would be delayed and people would not be able to get to work, reconnect with their families or receive important services. It would take years for the economy and community to recover from a failure of the Interstate Bridge.

The funds committed by both Oregon and Washington demonstrate the strong bistate support this project has. That support maximizes our chances of securing highly competitive federal funding grants.

The IBR program is well positioned to compete for federal grants that would contribute significant funding for program investments. We anticipate over $2 billion in federal grant funding could flow into our region; those are dollars we would not receive without the IBR program.

Tens of thousands of jobs will be generated during the construction period alone – benefiting workers, their families, local businesses, and the region’s economy.

The benefits of this critical investment will be experienced by far more than just the cyclists, cars, trucks, mass transit, and pedestrians who will have equitable access to a safer and more earthquake-ready replacement bridge and transportation corridor. Congestion will be reduced, and travelers will have more reliable choices to cross the Interstate Bridge.

Currently, we are analyzing the program’s potential environmental impacts. This analysis, called a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), will document how a replacement bridge and all its supporting infrastructure will impact and benefit communities, including residents, businesses, and public spaces.

We are engaging with community members at farmer’s markets, outdoor concerts, the Bridge Pedal and other events throughout the summer to ensure they are prepared to participate in the 60-day public comment period when the Draft SEIS is published later this year. For details, view the Meetings & Events page of the IBR website.

We want your voice to be heard on this effort and we’ll continue to add engagement opportunities throughout the year leading up to the public comment period.

For details, I encourage you to visit the program’s website at www.interstatebridge.org. Share your opinion by contacting info@interstatebridge.org.

We want to hear from you to ensure that these investments meet the needs of our region for the next 100 years.