Oregon
$600M in federal funding to go toward replacing I-5 bridge connecting Oregon and Washington
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The program tasked with replacing the century-old Interstate 5 bridge that connects Portland, Oregon, with southwest Washington, and serves as a vital transportation and commerce link, is set to receive $600 million in federal funds, state congressmembers said Friday.
Washington’s Democratic U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, announced the funding.
The bridge crosses the Columbia River and is a key component of I-5, which spans the entirety of the West Coast. Traffic congestion is frequent with more than 130,000 vehicles driving across it every day, according to regional transportation agencies.
“There are projects that are so big and so costly that oftentimes they don’t get funded, but they are linchpins to an economy that literally have regional and national significance to them. And the I-5 bridge is a perfect example of that,” Cantwell told The Associated Press. Projects like that need federal financial support, she said.
The aging bridge is at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake. Funding will go toward building a replacement that is seismically resilient.
“There’s no way a hundred-year-old bridge is going to continue to grow with the capacity and the demand that we have,” Cantwell told the AP. “This is going to be a key investment to help change that.”
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program will receive the money as part of a federal Department of Transportation grant initiative.
Murray, Washington’s other U.S. senator, has advocated for the project for decades and considers it a top priority.
“I am nothing short of ecstatic that Washington state can count on a truly historic influx of federal dollars,” she said in a joint news release with Cantwell and Gluesenkamp Perez.
Oregon officials also welcomed the funding. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley described it as a “game changer” that will “boost seismic resiliency in the region and ensure safer, faster, and more reliable transportation for generations to come.”
The money will come from the federal National Infrastructure Project Assistance program, which was created by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Also known as the Mega program, it supports projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs.
The $600 million will cover between 8 to 12% of the total estimated bridge replacement costs, which could reach $7.5 billion, Washington’s congressmembers said.
On Wednesday at 2:18 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory valid from 10 p.m. until Thursday 10 a.m. for North Central Oregon and Central Oregon.
The weather service states, “South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.”
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” adds the weather service. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.”
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
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Most grocery stores in Oregon close early on Christmas Eve and are closed on Christmas Day.
Here are the hours, though individual stores’ operating hours may differ.
Is Safeway open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Safeway will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Fred Meyer open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Fred Meyer will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Roth’s Fresh Markets open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Roth’s Fresh Markets will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is WinCo open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
WinCo Foods will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Costco open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Costco will close at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Trader Joe’s open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Trader Joe’s will close at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Grocery Outlet open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Most Grocery Outlets will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and be closed on Christmas Day. Some Grocery Outlets will be open from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Christmas Day, depending on the location. Check with your nearest store for hours.
Is Walmart open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Walmart will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Target open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Target will close at 8 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Are convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K and AM/PM open in Oregon on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
Most 24-hour convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Circle K and AM/PM will be open on Christmas Day.
Is Starbucks open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Starbucks will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be open from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Is Dutch Bros open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Dutch Bros will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Is Human Bean open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Human Bean will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
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