Interstate Bridge Replacement Program
Washington / Oregon border, USA
Client
Washington Department of Transport / Oregon Department of Transport
Programme
2019 - ongoing
Design Team
Knight Architects, WSP, ZGF Architects, Alta Planning + Design
Holistic design thinking as a catalyst for commercial and community gain
Interstate 5 (I-5) provides a critical connection between Oregon and Washington states and - as the only continuous north-south freeway between Canada and Mexico - is a vital trade route for regional, national and international economies. With one span of the bridge now over 100 years old, the two existing structures are at risk of collapse in the event of a major earthquake and no longer satisfy the needs of modern commerce and travel. Knight Architects is part of a multi-disciplinary team, led by WSP, brought in to design the seismically resilient and multi-modal replacement structure across the Columbia River.
Working with the client and wider design team, our holistic approach to people-centred design is proving crucial in unlocking function, cost, usability and safety benefits across the whole scheme. By shaping the dialogue between the structural and urban design teams around questions of 'Why?' and 'Who?', this significant infrastructure project is moving closer to creating increased access to high-capacity transit, improved low-stress active travel, as well as addressing climate and equity aspirations.
