4 tolling proposals for the Interstate Bridge move ahead [Video]

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Despite Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s pause on plans to toll Portland-area interstates earlier this year, tolls are coming sooner than rather than later. Partly, that’s because 2026 isn’t all that far off and the Oregon Department of Transportation desperately needs funding one way or another — but it’s also because the Interstate Bridge was never included in the governor’s tolling moratorium, and tolling has long been a part of the planning for its replacement.

Tolls meant to help fund the Interstate Bridge Replacement project between Portland and Vancouver are likely to start as early as spring 2026 on the current twin bridges, just as construction gets underway on the new ones. This means that free crossings over the Columbia River on I-5 will only be around for …