Federal Record of Decision clears way for Interstate‑5 bridge replacement; states, feds and communities cited

The joint Oregon–Washington legislative action committee met Sept. 17, 2026 to review the program milestones that culminated in a federal amended Record of Decision that allows the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program to advance toward construction.

Carly Francis, interim Interstate Bridge Replacement Program administrator, said the ROD — issued July 1, 2026 — is “the federal government's endorsement of this concept to advance into construction,” and credited years of bi‑state partnership, tribal consultation, local government work and thousands of public participants. Francis recounted the program’s public engagement: nearly 79 public meetings in earlier years, more than 600 listening sessions, and more than 18,000 survey responses leading to subsequent outreach and comment periods on environmental documents.

Why it matters: the ROD unlocks federal processes and allows the program to proceed with procurement steps and the first funded phase. Francis said the program has secured major funding commitments including $1 billion from Washington in its Move Ahead Washington package, $1 billion from Oregon, a $1.5 billion federal mega‑grant, and a projected $1.5 billion in toll revenues, creating a package the presenters described as sufficient to deliver a first independently usable phase.

Program staff described the scope of the first funded phase: new fixed spans across the Columbia River, connections to I‑5 and Hayden Island, removal of the existing movable spans and provisions for transit design. Presenters also emphasized that the funded phase was built to be independently useful for drivers even if future transit phases are staged separately.

Chair Senator Annette Cleveland framed the committee’s role as advisory and oversight and urged members to use the meeting to review prior work and the key milestones that produced the ROD. The committee will continue oversight as the program proceeds to procurement and property and environmental work ahead of construction.