Radio: Rep. John Ley tells KXL’s Lars Larson disclosure of new I-5 bridge cost delayed

September 18, 2025

The Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee, overseeing the planning and construction of a new Interstate 5 bridge between Vancouver and Portland, was expecting this week to receive an update on the overall cost of the bridge. Instead, Rep. John Ley, who serves on the committee, tells KXL’s Lars Larson that the cost estimates have been postponed until December or later.

Ley says the last estimate two years ago placed a price tag of between $5 billion up to $7.5 billion for bridge construction. He believes that the price tag may triple or go even higher, and no drawings for a new bridge have been finalized. Bottom line: No one on the committee knows the full price of the new I-5 bridge. Meanwhile, Washington has agreed to Oregon’s demand for tolls that could exceed $10 each way.