I-5 bridge replacement (Olympia, Pacific: cost, transportation, estimated)

[rjshae]

Buttigieg visits interstate highway bridge in Pacific Northwest slated for seismic replacement

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday visited the century-old Interstate 5 bridge that connects Portland, Oregon, with southwest Washington state, a vital but earthquake-vulnerable structure that’s set to be replaced as part of a multibillion-dollar project supported by federal funding.

The aging bridge, which opened in 1917, is at risk of collapse in a major quake, which could kill many people and sever a crucial transportation link in such an emergency. Plans to replace the bridge have been in the works for decades.

Sounds like a good thing, although I can imagine there may be a lot of disruption of traffic.

[Hemlock140]

We go to Portland often but always take 205, which will become a parking lot when the I5 bridge is shut down. Better yet is the beautiful drive going down I5 only to Olympia, to 101 and into Oregon at Astoria. Much longer but we love a nice drive.

[texasdiver]

The whole bridge replacement is a 15-year long fiasco.

Yes it needs replacing. But this effort has been ridiculous. It is much more of a stealth freeway expansion project than bridge replacement. More of the estimated cost comes from freeway expansion than actual bridge.