What are the outcomes?

Image of bicyclists, lightrail, freeflowing traffic and freight trucks. CRC addresses critical problems in the project area with a comprehensive set of bridge, highway, transit and other improvements. The CRC project benefits commuters, the regional economy and community livability in both Oregon and Washington.

Greater reliability and travel time savings for commuters

CRC project improvements will reduce congestion by approximately 70 percent compared to a no-build scenario. Fewer hours of daily congestion surrounding the Interstate Bridge will result in predictable travel times and significant travel time savings for commuters. For example, drivers heading north on I-5 from I-84 in Portland to 179th Street in Vancouver during the afternoon peak period are predicted to save 20 minutes compared with the no-build scenario. Congestion relief and improved reliability are a result of bridge and highway improvements, the extension of light rail and bridge tolls.

Fewer collisions in the project area

Collisions are expected to decline by about 70 percent compared to the no-build scenario. Collisions lead to societal costs including property damage, lost earnings, lost household production, medical costs, emergency services, travel delay, vocational rehabilitation, workplace costs, administrative and legal fees, and pain and lost quality of life. Project improvements that improve corridor safety include:

No bridge lifts to stop traffic
Added safety shoulders and wider lanes
Improved connections to and from I-5 at closely-spaced interchanges
Increased earthquake protection

Economic benefits that extend across the region

The I-5 corridor is the backbone of a network of roads that provide access to the greater Vancouver and Portland region, which is more susceptible to long-term economic losses from congestion than other areas because of its ties to trade. One-in-four jobs in Washington and one-in-five jobs in Oregon are supported by trade. The Interstate Bridge is a key piece of freight infrastructure. Approximately $40 billion worth of freight crossed the Interstate Bridge in 2005.

CRC creates benefits for both trucks and marine freight through reduced congestion in the corridor, improved access to ports and highways, elimination of bridge lifts and a primary marine channel that is better aligned with the channel under the adjacent railroad bridge.

In addition, CRC highway, bridge and transit construction is estimated to support or sustain an average of 1,900 construction related jobs each year. Spending on construction of the Columbia River Crossing project would result in direct effects like demand for construction materials and jobs. These direct effects lead to indirect effects as firms in other industries provide goods and services to the construction industry. Finally, wages paid to workers in construction trades or supporting industries are spent on other goods and services; these are referred to as induced effects.

Enhanced livability in communities connected to the project

CRC will promote quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods by reducing congestion impacts and enhancing community mobility. A combination of added light rail, bicycle and pedestrian pathways, and local road improvements will better connect neighborhoods. Improved highway conditions will reduce cut through traffic on local streets.

CRC project design also includes numerous environmental benefits, such as:

Improved water quality with treatment of 30 million gallons of polluted stormwater each year
Improved air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Enhanced vegetation in parks and green spaces and historic properties