VANCOUVER, Wash. — The governors of Washington and Oregon met Monday to announce their joint plan to revive the Columbia River Crossing project, which would replace the I-5 bridge over the river.
Today, @OregonGovBrown and I relaunched the project to replace the I-5 bridge.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) November 18, 2019
The memorandum of intent we signed makes sure this will get done in a way that serves our shared region well. pic.twitter.com/xFpFpLbreA
The project is a bi-state effort to build a new bridge connecting Vancouver and Portland. It would replace and modernize the stretch of I-5 that links the cities and improve safety, reduce congestion and increase mobility of motorists and other traffic, according to a report from the Oregon Secretary of State.
Talks for the new bridge stalled in 2013 after Washington lawmakers declined to pay for the state's share of the project, after Oregon had already passed legislation to pay its share, according to an audit by the Oregon Secretary of State.
The governors relaunched the project Monday, signing a memorandum of intent to restart the process. The pair also released a joint op-ed in The Oregonian.
"For safety, traffic relief and jobs, we are recommitting to replacing the I-5 bridge," the article read.
Inslee said the new bridge is a high priority for him and that both states have allocated $44 million to relaunch the project office that will report back to both Washington and Oregon's state Legislatures.
There is not a total cost estimate for the project.
Watch a replay of the press conference with Govs. Inslee and Brown below:
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Cox Media Group
