Forum: Update on Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
With a full audience in attendance, the experts closest to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project provided an overview and some insight into how the work is progressing. The critical element for keeping the project on time is the willingness of the state legislature to commit $1 billion, matching Washington State's commitment, and signaling to the federal government that Oregon is serious about building this bridge.
While the Governor did not include the bridge in her recommended budget, she did make 'editorial mention' of it, according to Representative Susan McLain, who co-chairs the Joint Transportation committee and the Joint Interstate 5 Bridge committee. When asked how this project is being prioritized by legislators, compared to other transportation projects, Senator Chris Gorsek (who holds the gavel on the Senate side for the same committees as McLain) said it was a top priority.
After failing to move the bridge project forward ten years ago, it was clear that there is urgency among the legislators on the panel to see the project stay on time and get funded. Westside Economic Alliance supports the effort currently underway to ensure this critical piece of infrastructure is replaced with something that is seismically sound and meets the multi-modal needs of the region. Moving freight to market, employees to jobs and visitors into and out of the Westside would come to a standstill should the current bridge fail.
