Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River without movable span

By: Jerry Cornfield

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: January 16, 2026

Words: 1,448

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 4 days ago

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Washington and Oregon will not have to build a bridge with a movable span to accommodate tall marine vessels when they replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard decided on Friday.

Instead, the states can go with a less expensive fixed span that provides 116 feet of clearance above the river. The savings from this design will be welcome news for the states, which are confronting rising cost …

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