91ÊÓƵ

The Washington House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill to begin preliminary work to develop a new Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River.

designates a revived I-5 crossing as a project of statewide significance, and encourages Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to enter a memorandum of understanding with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and empanel a two-state legislative committee. It would appropriate $350,000 to pay for a planning inventory.

The bill passed 60-38 and is now in committee in the Senate.

Since the Columbia River Crossing project was officially shut down in 2014, congestion has worsened on the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver, Washington. The northbound span was built in 1917 and the southbound was built in 1958. Neither is expected to withstand a serious earthquake.

Between 2005 and 2013, $190 million was spent to develop the Columbia River Crossing. The ambitious project would have replaced both spans, extended light rail from Portland to Vancouver, and improved bike and pedestrian lanes. Cost estimates ranged from $3.1 billion to $3.5 billion. The federal government had committed to contribute tens of millions of dollars toward the project.

People who testified in favor of the bill requested that the new project pick up where the previous one left off. They suggested working with President Donald Trump, who has proposed passing a massive infrastructure package.