Interstate Bridge Replacement Program

Today we were thrilled to learn that our program received $1.499 billion through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program grant! The BIP grant program offers competitive, discretionary funding for projects focused on replacing existing bridges to improve the safety and resiliency of transportation infrastructure across the country. Funds from this grant will be used to help construct the replacement of the aging Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River and other transportation improvements within the program corridor. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gRgcrhJV

November marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month and we celebrate and honor all the contributions that Indigenous peoples have made to this region. Native American tribes have lived along the shores of the Columbia River and traveled along the river to trade and practice their traditions since time immemorial. Our program acknowledges the sovereignty of tribal nations, and we are committed to meaningful and respectful consultation with tribal governments. We look forward to continuing to engage with the Indigenous community and consulting with the tribes and Native Hawaiians to achieve a richer and lasting understanding of the area, preserve and enhance the cultural and natural environment that surrounds the Interstate Bridge and build durable relationships that will last into the future.

Chapter 2 of the Draft SEIS compares the alternatives we're studying (the general outline of what we're proposing to build) vs. a No-Build Alternative, which looks at how transportation and the environment would change by 2045 if nothing was built. Visit https://lnkd.in/gx_dCS2H to learn more and leave a public comment.

Make your voice heard tonight! Join us at 6 p.m. for a virtual public hearing on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. During this public hearing you will be able to provide input about the Draft SEIS with our staff and have it documented in the official public comment record. This event will have ASL interpretation and closed captioning in English and Spanish. Register now and let us know if you have any questions: https://lnkd.in/gYJdhRER

Members of our workforce team had a blast attending the Washington State Women's Commission's "Blueprints for Success: Girls in Building and Manufacturing” event! We recently commissioned a regional workforce study that revealed that there's a shortage of women and people of color in the construction industry. We are committed to being intentional in pursuing impactful measures to enhance diversity and inclusion in the regional workforce.

Chapter 1 of the Draft SEIS covers our purpose and need—improving I-5 corridor mobility by addressing present and future travel demand and mobility needs in the program area. https://lnkd.in/gx_dCS2H

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, October 26 for our last tabling event of the season! 🍂 We'll be at the Vancouver Farmers Market from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to answer your questions about the program. Stop by and say hi after you pick up your favorite fall produce!

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the Portland Expo Center for our public hearing and open house event! IBR program staff—including design, transportation, right of way and environmental experts—met with community members to share information about the proposed investments and findings in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Attendees were also able to submit their comments in writing, using an online form or verbally to a court reporter.

There's still time to comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement! Join us for two upcoming virtual public hearings where you will be able to share your comments about the Draft SEIS documents with program staff. All public comments will be recorded, and a response will be documented in the Final EIS anticipated in 2025: Saturday, October 26, 12-2:30 p.m. https://lnkd.in/gpEU_b3K Wednesday, October 30, 6-8:30 p.m. https://lnkd.in/gwgA4p9r This event will have ASL interpretation and closed captioning in English and Spanish. If you need additional interpretation support, please call 888-503-6735 at least 48 hours in advance of the event.

Thanks for showing up, Vancouver. Last week we hosted an in-person public hearing and open house at Clark College. We appreciate everyone who dropped by to learn more about the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and submitted a public comment.