U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Tours I-5 Bridge, Emphasizes Seismic and Climate Resiliency in Replacement Plans

During a visit to the aging Interstate 5 bridge, Pete Buttigieg discussed the critical need for a new structure to withstand earthquakes and climate challenges, with a project cost estimated between $5 billion and $7.5 billion.

• Pete Buttigieg toured the I-5 bridge connecting Portland, Oregon, with southwest Washington, highlighting the bridge's vulnerability to earthquakes and the importance of replacing it for regional safety.
• The Interstate Bridge Replacement project, aiming to secure at least $6 billion in funding, received a $600 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Officials are revising the project's cost estimate, currently between $5 billion and $7.5 billion, due to rising material costs, with construction tentatively set to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Buttigieg emphasized the project's multimodal approach, including a planned light rail extension, to address congestion and reduce emissions.
• The bridge, over a century old and a key component of I-5, carries more than 130,000 vehicles daily and is at significant risk in the event of a major earthquake.

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