c/portland_oregon · by Doug@piefed.social · 162d

Interstate Bridge cost soars 140%, adding billions to project estimate

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/17/interstate-bridge-oregon-washington-cost-estimate/

9 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

GameOverFlow@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 162d (1 reply)

Welcome to a german big build project ... oh it US. So welcome to the club of butchered big build projects.

infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 162d

Yeah infrastructure budget bloat is a big issue in the USA, too. Good rule of thumb, just take the final estimate before the first shovel goes in and double it.

infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 162d

The remaining parts of the full five-mile corridor will be completed in phases as funding becomes available, he said.

lol

SJSmith@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 162d (1 reply)

Tolls

infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 162d

It's how every single span over the Columbia between WA and OR except one have been funded. But ask the average local driver about it and you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was an untested pie in the sky unjustifiable concept.

pdxfed@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 161d

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, or IBR for short, grew out of the previous proposal known as the Columbia River Crossing, which fell apart in 2013.

Yes, and why was that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Crossing

Of approximately $227 million allocated, the project had spent $175 million by the end of April 2013, much of it on pre-construction testing of subsurface conditions, which may or may not be useful in the future.[20] The project was terminated after the Washington State Senate failed to approve $450 million in funding, with key opponent Ann Rivers of La Center, Washington suggesting alternative measures such as eliminating lane changes and lowering the speed limit on the bridge.[21] One common objection from opponents was the inclusion of light rail.[22]