The bridge is a crucial lifeline, providing essential access for emergency response, medical care, and evacuation during major events. Its new cyclist and pedestrian paths will offer safer, more reliable travel for everyone and can serve as emergency vehicle access when needed. 

The new bridge is designed to modern seismic standards, with deep, reinforced foundations that strengthen this critical crossing for the long term. The existing bridge predates those standards and remains vulnerable in a major earthquake, making replacement essential.

With full 12-foot lanes and shoulders, the new bridge improves safety and traffic flow while eliminating load limits that constrain local businesses and freight movement. The result is a safer crossing that reduces collisions, keeps traffic moving, and supports a stronger regional economy.

With more than 12 million tons of cargo moving through the Columbia River each year, this crossing sits on a critical marine corridor where navigation safety is paramount. The new bridge improves channel alignment and reliability to reduce the risk of catastrophic vessel strikes, protect this essential route, and keep regional commerce moving.

Supporting 4.5 million vehicle trips each year, the bridge connects farms, factories, and local businesses to global markets. A more reliable bridge will keep people and goods moving smoothly, supporting a stronger, more resilient regional and national economy.