Why do I-5 and the Interstate Bridge need to be improved?
There are significant congestion, safety, and mobility problems in the five-mile project area between SR 500 in Vancouver and Columbia Blvd. in Portland. If no changes are made, congestion will grow from today’s six hour daily traffic jam to 15 hours per day by 2030. This section of I-5 has an accident rate about double that of similar urban highways in the region. Narrow lanes, short on-ramps, and a lack of safety shoulders on the bridge contribute to accidents. Bridge lifts stall all traffic using I-5, add to unsafe driving conditions and increase accident potential. Trucks hauling freight and public transit buses get stuck in congestion, too. The project’s problem definition details the specific congestion, safety and mobility problems addressed by the Columbia River Crossing project.
