Despite Phone Call, NW Governors Say No Plans To Restart I-5 Bridge Project

By Chris Lehman (OPB)
Oct. 4, 2016 9:30 p.m.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown discussed a potential new Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River during a phone call this week.

Inslee mentioned his conversation with Brown during an interview with the editorial board of The Columbian in Vancouver.

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"We both know how important this span is," Inslee told the newspaper.  "We both know we're going to have to develop consensus in this community to move forward. And I'm hopeful, I'm going to look for any way I can to help that happen."

A spokeswoman for Inslee said Tuesday that a revival of the project is not imminent. And a spokeswoman for Brown said "the ball is in Washington's court" when it comes to the I-5 bridge.

The two states had previously taken initial steps toward replacing the aging twin spans. But the project was canceled when Washington lawmakers failed to approve a funding plan in 2013.

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