Coast Guard issues Interstate Bridge clearance ruling, allowing fixed span with 116-foot height
KGW • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Coast Guard has lowered the minimum clearance height for the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) project to 116 feet, enabling a fixed-span bridge design without a drawbridge, a major breakthrough for the project.
- This decision allows the IBR team to avoid an estimated $1 billion additional cost and the operational disruption caused by drawbridge lifts, aligning with goals to eliminate bridge lifts on Interstate 5.
- The Coast Guard's updated clearance is based on mitigation agreements with upriver companies, involving about $140 million in compensation for vessel modifications due to the reduced clearance.
- While the clearance issue is resolved, the project still faces significant challenges, including completing the federal environmental review and addressing a substantial funding gap, with new cost estimates
