OPB’s First Look: A troubled bridge over water

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Good morning, Northwest.

The anticipated cost of a new Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington has more than doubled, according to estimates released yesterday.

OPB’s Erik Neumann looks into the mix of financial forces plaguing the replacement bridge and infrastructure projects nationwide to start today’s newsletter.

In other news, Godzilla is coming to Portland — and only Bigfoot, Damian Lillard and other Northwest heroes can save us.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

Interstate Bridge cost soars 140%, adding billions to project estimate

The cost of the project to replace the Interstate Bridge between Washington and Oregon is going up again.

According to new official estimates released yesterday, the price will increase approximately 140% from a 2022 estimate of $6 billion to a new target of $14.4 billion.

Project delays, rising costs for materials and labor, and tariffs have all contributed to the ballooning price tag. Governors of Oregon and Washington, however, remained defiant.

“I’m not interested in looking backwards, OK?” Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said in Vancouver yesterday. “We’re building this damn bridge. That’s happening.” (Erik Neumann)

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3 things to know this morning

• Archaeologists investigating remains of the Baker White Pine Mill in Eastern Oregon have made findings challenging mainstream notions of flannel-clad lumberjacks doing manly things in the woods. (Chelsea Rose, Christie Goshe)
• Trustees at the University of Oregon have approved a 4.5% tuition increase for new in-state undergraduate students. (Nathan Wilk)
• The WNBA and its players union have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective bargaining agreement. The timeline for Portland acquiring its first players is still unclear. (Doug Feinberg)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• As Portland Community College strike continues, most classes do not (Elizabeth Miller)
• Evacuation orders dropped for wildfire near La Pine, though investigation continues (OPB staff)
• Measles cases are on the rise in Washington state (Mitch Borden)
• Oregon Senate president and Trail Blazers executive defend public financing deal to help renovate Moda Center (Sheraz Sadiq)
• Trump administration again appeals ruling limiting crowd control weapons near Portland ICE building (Conrad Wilson)
• La Clinica opens new mobile health center on wheels, serving Jackson County (Jane Vaughan)
• Marion County deputies shoot suspect in alleged hostage incident (OPB staff)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Clatsop Community College course explores book bans and challenges

‘Godzilla vs. Portland’ brings the king of the monsters to the Rose City

A new comic book series, “Godzilla vs. America,” brings the “King of the Monsters” crashing through the country, one city at a time. In “Godzilla vs. America: Portland,” familiar locations are rendered in beautiful detail — only for Godzilla to inevitably destroy them.

This prehistoric, atomic creature battles several figures from Rip City lore: Bigfoot, Damian Lillard, even the Portland frog. This one-shot issue features stories from Northwest creators based in the city: Cat Farris, Caitlin Yarsky, Mark Russell, Eryk Donovan, and writer and artist Colleen Coover.

OPB “All Things Considered” producer Donald Orr spoke with Coover about her process of bringing Portland into the MonsterVerse. (Donald Orr)

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