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While a key piece of funding was secured to keep the Interstate Bridge Replacement program on track, funding for two other major freeway projects 鈥� improvements to Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 鈥� is much less clear.

Recently, the Oregon Legislature allocated $1 billion toward the $6 billion IBR program, matching the $1 billion previously committed by the Washington State Legislature in 2022. With $2 billion secured, the project team is now better positioned to apply for up to $3 billion in federal grants, with the remaining funding anticipated to come from tolling.

However, rising construction costs have become roadblocks for other major transportation projects. Also, Gov. Tina Kotek recently ordered a pause on tolling until 2026. This dramatically impacts planned funding for the I-5 Rose Quarter and the Interstate 205 improvement projects 鈥� which have grown in scope and price.

On Wednesday, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved a new draft plan 鈥� including financing 鈥� recommended by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Because of increasing project costs, historically high levels of inflation, and the delay in tolling, the state needs to refresh its approach to ensure the financing plan is prudent and conservative, said Travis Brouwer, ODOT assistant director for revenue, finance and compliance.

The new plan essentially would salvage the first part of the I-205 project by putting the rest of it on hold, along with the entire Rose Quarter project, until more funding becomes available.

I-205 expansion plans call for replacing five bridges and seismically upgrading four others. Under the new plan, the second phase would be 鈥渋ndefinitely postponed鈥� because of the delayed tolling revenue, ODOT said. Phase one includes widening and seismically strengthening the Abernethy Bridge; that work is under way.

The second phase would include adding a travel lane along a seven-mile stretch of the corridor west of Abernethy Bridge, replacing the Tualatin River Bridge, and installing tolling sensors on those bridges. With the new plan, tolling would still move forward on the Abernethy Bridge in 2026; however, tolling would be delayed on the Tualatin River Bridge.

By tolling only the Abernethy Bridge, the estimated expected revenue would drop from $700 million to $385 million, according to ODOT. Additionally, larger anticipated funding sources for the projects would drop from $1.4 billion to $1.1 billion.

Meanwhile, the I-5 Rose Quarter project鈥檚 estimated cost has grown from . An approximately $1.3 billion funding gap remains for completion of design and construction. The new plan presents three options for completing the federal review process and at least a portion of the design work, but neither acquiring rights-of-way nor starting construction.

鈥淲e did make a commitment to the Rose Quarter, and I鈥檓 not willing to back off of that and unfortunately,鈥� Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Julie Brown said. 鈥淲e do have a different plan than when we first started into it, and the costs are astronomical. We need to figure a way of doing it.鈥�

The cheapest option would save $15 million while retaining all design components. While the most expensive one would finish design and main construction packages, it would require an additional $40 million to $60 million in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funding.

The proposed project funding under the new plan is $1.087 billion, and $1.102 billion is reasonably available.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty tight,鈥� Brouwer said. 鈥淚t puts us at some level of risk that if either cost grows or revenues come in under what we would expect, we would be coming back to the OTC asking for additional funding or to reduce the scope of one or more of these projects. It may be difficult to reduce scope at that point depending on how far into the projects we are.鈥�

Another big risk is that a significant portion of the funding is presumed revenue from tolling 鈥� which, for it to begin, would need federal, regional, and OTC approval. This was all assumed to occur when Abernethy Bridge construction began with I-205 tolling funds expected to cover some of the cost. If tolling on I-205 were to not move forward, it would punch a significant hole in the finance plan, Brouwer said. STIP dollars would likely cover any bridge-related costs.

The new draft plan will be delivered to Kotek by July 1 for feedback.