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The Interstate Bridge Replacement program has been awarded an additional $1.499 billion in federal funding to move the project toward construction.

The funding, announced Friday, comes from the Federal Highway Administration鈥檚 Bridge Investment Program. It adds to a $600 million award earlier this year from the U.S Department of Transportation鈥檚 Mega grant program.

鈥淭his is the largest single source of funding that we have received thus far,鈥� Greg Johnson, administrator of the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program, said in an interview Friday.

鈥淚t signals that the folks in (Washington,) D.C. at the U.S. DOT are very confident in how we are moving this program forward,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e are doing some unique things that have garnered their attention. Our focus on equity and climate, and making this a multimodal corridor, I think, is what they are looking for in an investment. This is a vote of confidence in the things that we are doing.鈥�

IBR officials are seeking more than $2.5 billion in federal grants, combined with $1 billion each from the states of Oregon and Washington and funding from tolls to build the project, which has a $6 billion price tag that is only expected to grow.

鈥淭his is fantastic news for the state of Oregon,鈥� Gov. Tina Kotek stated. 鈥淭his infusion of federal funds will promote regional and national economic growth and support local jobs and broader workforce opportunities. Building this multimodal bridge also moves us closer to meeting our state, regional and national goals of reducing carbon emissions and curbing the effects of climate change.鈥�

The funding will help push the project toward the first phase of construction: the bridge itself. A long list of highway expansions and connections in both states will follow.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, in a news release, stated that project backers 鈥渉ave been working tirelessly with our Oregon partners to demonstrate the bistate commitment to get this done for the people of both states and the nation.鈥�

The next milestone in the program is a draft supplemental environmental impact statement. The key environmental analysis will kick off a public comment period. A record of decision could be obtained as early as fall 2025.

Johnson thanked Oregon and Washington鈥檚 congressional delegations, and business interests on both sides of the Columbia River, for shoring up support for the massive project.

鈥淣one of this gets done in a vacuum,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭his is a joint effort.鈥�

The Interstate Bridge鈥檚 northbound span opened in 1917 and is viewed by state officials as vulnerable to destruction in a major earthquake. The southbound span opened in 1958.