VANCOUVER, Wash. – On Feb. 14, 2017 – the Interstate 5 Bridge’s 100th birthday – the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to support replacement of the structure, which carries nearly 136,000 vehicles across the Columbia River each day.

“We have the only bridge that can stop traffic on the interstate corridor from Mexico to Canada for something as simple as a bridge lift for a sailboat,” said commission president Brian Wolfe. “This is an economic issue for our community, region and the entire West Coast, affecting freight mobility as well as employers, workers and emergency responders.”

The resolution supports efforts by the Washington State Legislature to designate replacement of the I-5 Bridge a project of statewide significance; allow the Washington State Department of Transportation to dedicate resources to collaborating with the Oregon Department of Transportation, and; appropriate or allow for transfer funding to initiate planning, engineering and construction of the I-5 Bridge replacement and related interchange improvements.

The resolution is shared between the three Clark County ports: Vancouver, Camas-Washougal and Ridgefield. Vancouver’s commission was the first to approve the resolution; it is expected to go before the other two ports’ commissions for consideration in the next few weeks.

Read the full resolution.

– POV –

The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a skilled labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.