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What is being done?

The CRC project will significantly improve safety and congestion in the five-mile segment of I-5 between SR 500 in Vancouver and Victory Boulevard in North Portland. CRC will replace the Interstate Bridge, improve five miles of I-5, extend light rail to downtown Vancouver and improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities. These CRC solutions address the problems identified in the project area: too many crashes, growing congestion, limited public transit options, freight immobility, narrow bicycle and pedestrian pathways and earthquake vulnerability.

Improving safety

A replacement Interstate Bridge will include auxiliary lanes that will allow traffic to merge on and off the highway more safely. The bridge will not have a lift span which will reduce the number of collisions. The bridge also will include full safety shoulders so that when crashes do occur, disabled vehicles can be moved off of the roadway. Safety shoulders also allow emergency vehicles to respond more quickly.
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Improvements at five interchanges will make entering and exiting the highway safer. Added auxiliary lanes at interchanges will provide space for vehicles to merge.
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Getting traffic moving

The replacement Interstate Bridge design calls for 10 lanes (three through lanes plus two auxiliary lanes to connect interchanges in each travel direction) on two bridge structures. The bridge will be high enough for marine traffic to pass, eliminating the need for daily bridge lifts that bring traffic to a standstill. The bridge design also includes safety shoulders, so when crashes occur disabled vehicles can be moved off the roadway, rather than occupying travel lanes.
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CRC will replace five interchanges to improve the efficiency of vehicles moving on and off of the highway. Added auxiliary lanes at interchanges will provide additional distance for vehicles to merge and reduce driver conflicts that cause slowdowns. The interchanges also will feature improvements to the ramp terminals, allowing traffic to interact more efficiently with local street traffic and avoid backups on the ramps and I-5.
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A light rail extension to downtown Vancouver will provide a dedicated, non-highway travel alternative. A station will be added at Hayden Island along with four stations in downtown Vancouver, including a terminus near Clark College. In addition, three park and rides will be built along the light rail line in Vancouver. By 2030, the light rail system is expected to carry over 18,000 trips per day across the Columbia River, freeing capacity on the highway and giving area residents better public transportation options.
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Programs will be supported to encourage use of alternatives to driving alone. Such alternatives include public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting and other commute alternatives. Programs will be offered before, during and after project construction. Tolling will also help manage congestion through the use of variable pricing, which offers a lower toll for drivers who travel during non-peak, less busy hours of the day. All-electronic toll collection will eliminate toll booths and the need for drivers to slow down.
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Getting freight moving

Replacing the Interstate Bridge will remove a bottleneck to provide reliable travel times for freight movement. The replacement Interstate Bridge design calls for 10 lanes (three through lanes plus two lanes to connect interchanges in each travel direction) on two bridge structures that will provide added capacity for the 77 percent growth in truck traffic expected in the next 20 years. In addition, the design will eliminate bridge lifts as well as remove the “hump” in the middle of the bridge that currently slows trucks down.
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CRC will rebuild five interchanges to improve the efficiency of vehicles moving on and off of the highway, including improvements to key freight interchanges at Marine Drive and Mill Plain Blvd. Added auxiliary lanes at interchanges will provide additional distance for vehicles to merge and reduce conflicts between large trucks and other vehicles that cause slowdowns.
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Expanding reliable transit options

CRC will extend light rail 2.9 miles from the Expo Center to downtown Vancouver. Light rail will provide a dedicated, non-highway travel alternative for commuters and connect Vancouver to 52 miles of an existing light rail network. A station will be added on Hayden Island and at four locations in downtown Vancouver, terminating near Clark College. In addition, three park and rides will be built along the light rail line in Vancouver. By 2030 the new light rail line is expected to have 6 million boardings per year.
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Supporting pedestrian and bicycle travel

CRC will include a safe and wide path across the Columbia River separated from the highway that is 16 to 20 feet wide, allows for natural light and provides views of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood. Sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use paths will be added or improved in North Portland, Vancouver and on Hayden Island and provide better access to neighborhoods surrounding I-5 as well as other regional trails.
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Reducing risk from earthquakes

The replacement CRC bridge will be built to current seismic standards. Pilings supporting the bridge piers will extend to underlying solid rock of the Troutdale Formation.
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