Overview
- New estimates put the project at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a most likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from prior $5–$7.5 billion projections.
- The initial build is refocused on replacing the two river spans and extending light rail to Vancouver, with interchange and Hayden Island work deferred to later phases.
- The U.S. Coast Guard approved a fixed-span design, a key clearance that avoids an estimated $1.7 billion premium for a movable span.
- About $5.45 billion is identified to date, including roughly $2.1 billion in federal grants, and a financing plan due by late September is required to unlock a $1.5 billion federal capital grant.
- Officials plan to award a contract next year and begin construction in 2028 for a six- to seven-year build, with tolls managed by Washington expected to provide at least $1.2 billion and reported to begin in 2027 or as early as late 2026.