Costs for this lady's replacement are expected to balloon by the billions. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios
Interstate Bridge Replacement program leaders told Oregon and Washington lawmakers yesterday that they still don't have an updated cost estimate for the project, citing unresolved federal decisions and shifting construction costs.
Administrators plan to model more than 100 risk factors, including tariffs, supply-chain pressures and the potential cost differences between fixed and movable bridge designs before giving a new figure next year.
What they're saying: "This bridge is approaching getting out of control on spending," state Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) said during the Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee meeting yesterday.
What we're watching: The Coast Guard's early-2026 decision on bridge height will lock in the final design — engineers are currently weighing four options — and allow the program to finish its cost estimate and move toward breaking ground.
Environmental reviews and contractor procurement are still ongoing.
Completing the full project could take up to 15 years, stretching across multiple budget cycles and administrations.
