I-5 Columbia River Bridge Tolling Delayed Until 2027, Raising Future Rates for Washington, Oregon Drivers

Tolling on the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, connecting Washington and Oregon, has been postponed until at least the summer of 2027, a year later than originally planned. This delay coincides with the start of construction on a replacement bridge, which is expected to cost between $5 billion and $7.5 billion. To compensate for the lost revenue from the delayed tolling, the Bi-State Tolling Subcommittee has recommended maintaining the initially announced toll rates in the first year and increasing rates in the following years. Proposed toll rates range from $1.55 to $4.70 one-way, with higher fees during peak travel times, and are expected to rise annually or biannually. Each state's transportation commission must approve these recommendations before specific revenue-generating details are finalized. Washington Transportation Commissioner Debbie Young emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust by keeping initial toll promises before subsequent increases to recover the delayed revenue.