Washington State committee passes funding package for I-5 bridge

The Washington State Senate Transportation Committee recently passed a $15 billion transportation package that includes $450 million to replace the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.The project has been a priority for lawmakers in Clark County, who have been working to collaborate with the state of Oregon to replace the century-old bridge since 2017, according to The Columbian. The funding would be additional to the $17.5 million Gov. Jay Inslee proposed for an office dedicated to the bridge replacement project. In December, Washington and Oregon lawmakers had their first public meeting to discuss replacing the bridge since the plans were scrapped for the Columbia River Crossing in 2013. Washington and Oregon will reportedly have to repay $140 million in federal funds unless they can show progress toward building a new bridge.