The long‑anticipated Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Program has completed its Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), a major procedural step required before federal approval can be granted for construction. Project officials announced that the SEIS will be signed soon, clearing the way for a Record of Decision that could come as early as this summer.

The SEIS, prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act, updates the environmental review originally completed more than a decade ago. It evaluates the potential effects of the Modified Locally Preferred Alternative — a configuration that retains transit, bike, and pedestrian components while aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety on the five‑mile stretch of I‑5 between Portland and Vancouver. The document also weighs those outcomes against a no‑build option, detailing anticipated changes in traffic flow, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental justice impacts.

According to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, federal agencies will now review the SEIS before issuing the final Record of Decision, a prerequisite for design and construction to begin. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), co‑lead agencies on the project, have stated that public feedback collected during the SEIS process shaped several refinements in bridge height, interchange design, and noise mitigation strategies.

The bridge replacement — a project spanning state lines and decades of planning — remains one of the largest infrastructure efforts in the Pacific Northwest. For Cowlitz County residents, the environmental review’s completion is a signal that regional freight and commuter connections may soon see tangible progress after years of procedural delay. Federal approval would unlock the next phase of engineering and funding commitments that link directly to local logistics routes along I‑5, including shipments moving through Longview and Kelso.

Once the Record of Decision is issued, the program can proceed to finalize design and begin property acquisition and permitting. Construction timelines will depend on remaining funding agreements and federal grant awards expected later this year.

Additional documentation and updates are available through WSDOT’s official I‑5 Bridge Replacement project page.