The Columbia River Crossing, also known as the Interstate 5 Bridge between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., has received national priority status from the White House.
The elite status, extended to only 20 other projects over the last five years, will help reduce the project's timetable by months if not years.

"The Columbia River Crossing will ease the congestion impacting one of the most important commercial routes in the country," said Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. "The President's order is an important step toward making this project a reality so we can get goods to market, and travelers to their destinations efficiently and safely."

The priority designation under Executive Order 13274 was requested jointly by the Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation. It will help speed decision-making by officials while maintaining all federal and state environmental review requirements.

The Columbia River Crossing project, which has already received $15 million in federal funding, will reduce gridlock and improve safety problems on a 5-mile stretch of I-5 through a combination of bridge, transit and highway improvements. The project area stretches from State Route 500 in Vancouver, Wash., to approximately Columbia Boulevard in Portland, Ore., including the I-5 Bridge across the Columbia River.

The FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration share leadership among federal agencies for this project, though others cooperating include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, National Park Service, U.S. General Services Administration and numerous state, Tribal and local agencies.