Coast Guard clearance narrows IBR options; staff outlines grant path and sequencing

Ray Mabey, assistant administrator for the Interstate Bridge Replacement program, told the commission the Coast Guard issued a linear navigation determination that supports a fixed‑span bridge with 116 feet of clearance, which removes movable‑span options and allows the program to concentrate on a narrower set of designs.

"That clears the way for many things for us to move forward," Mabey said, and staff described the critical path that now centers on completing the supplemental environmental impact statement, getting a Record of Decision from federal agencies, and filing a grant amendment to program roughly $927,000,000 of the $1.5 billion Bridge Investment Program grant by the September obligation deadline. Staff added they are coordinating with federal partners and preparing an initial finance plan.

Interim program administrator Carly Francis emphasized risk‑mitigation steps already underway—ground‑improvement tests on Hayden Island and subsurface coring to inform foundation design—and said the program is considering progressive design‑build delivery to reduce bid risk and improve contractor engagement.

Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about sequencing, whether early construction could be staged within available funds, and how grant restrictions would affect which packages are eligible for the Bridge Investment Program funds. Staff said the grant is focused on the main span and approaches and must be programmed against defined uses in the grant application; they committed to bring more detailed sequencing and finance scenarios as the environmental record is finalized.