Interstate Bridge Replacement: Latest “advance to construction” step for Vancouver commutes

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program says it has moved into an “advance to construction” phase after the federal lead agencies issued an Amended Record of Decision on July 1, 2026. In program terms, that milestone clears the way for the next construction-steps to start taking shape—including procurement to identify a contractor—but it does not mean major bridge construction is already underway.

July 1 amended ROD: what it unlocks next

On the program’s “Advancing to Construction” update page, the project explains that the Amended ROD from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration clears the way for the Program to finalize steps necessary to initiate construction. Those steps include securing the necessary permits and beginning the procurement process, with selection anticipated in 2027.

The City of Vancouver’s IBR page describes the same milestone as concluding the federal environmental review process and enabling the Program to begin construction activities, while the broader work still depends on requirements continuing to move forward.

Procurement timeline Vancouver can track (RFQ → selection)

At an industry presentation in June, the Program laid out an anticipated procurement schedule tied to the July 1, 2026 Amended ROD. The dates below are explicitly described as anticipated and not final, but they’re the clearest public signal yet that contracting steps are progressing:

July 6, 2026: Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued
Mid-July 2026: Voluntary submitters meeting
August 19, 2026: Statement of qualifications submittal deadline
October 21, 2026: Notify shortlisted submitters
October 2026: Requests for Proposals (RFP)
January 2027: Proposal due date
April 2027: Contractor selection (anticipated)

Construction start expectations: 2028 (with “notice to proceed” steps before that)

The Program’s “Advancing to Construction” materials say construction of the replacement bridge is currently anticipated to begin in 2028 and last six to seven years.

The same industry schedule also points to interim notice-to-proceed milestones that typically help lock in later work:

Summer 2027: Phase 1 Notice to Proceed (NTP)
Fall 2028: Phase 2 Notice to Proceed (NTP)

Permitting still matters: USCG bridge permit dashboard

Even after the federal environmental milestone, construction-related steps still depend on remaining permitting requirements. One example shown on the federal permitting dashboard is the US Coast Guard bridge permit for the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement Supplemental EIS.

That dashboard lists the USCG bridge permit as planned and shows the following timing markers: public notice completed June 25, 2026, plus current target dates of October 29, 2026 and January 27, 2027 for later agency actions tied to the permit process. (So the procurement and construction-planning trajectory should be tracked alongside how permitting milestones continue to clear.)

What changes next for Vancouver drivers and local businesses

Once procurement steps move forward, the project’s construction planning and contracting decisions tend to get more concrete. For Vancouver commuters, freight planners, and businesses, that usually means more practical follow-on updates such as:

More contracting/procurement notices as RFQ and RFP work proceeds
Greater specificity on construction sequencing assumptions over time (the details that feed commute and freight planning)
Local coordination updates from the City and regional partners as statewide/bi-state contracting milestones translate into Vancouver-area impacts

If you’re planning around bridge access and commute reliability, treat the posted 2026–2028 timeline as guidance that can tighten as contracts and permitting requirements move forward—and keep an eye on follow-on program updates as official procurement steps progress.

Sources

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