Bob Ortblad

IBR Administrator Greg Johnson said, “We guessed, we guessed low.”
From 2020 to 2022 IBR’s guess increased 56%.
Will a new IBR guess in late 2025 increase 50% more?
ODOT & WSDOT mega project costs are often 100% more than engineer's guess.
IBR could be a $20 billion black hole.

Opinion: The IBR ‘guessed and guessed low’ on project costs - ClarkCountyToday.com John Ley criticizes IBR leadership over rising costs, flawed data, and unverified promises tied to the I-5 Bridge project, calling for serious oversight of the largest public works project in Portland...

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

YouTube video by Nooki Nooki They Built a Tunnel... by Sinking It?!

An immersed tunnel will protect Fort Vancouver and downtown’s riverfront.

Immersed tunnel is less costly, faster to build, and more seismic resilient than IBR’s monstrous freeway bridge design.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJi...

Letter: ‘IBR has relied on this video to instill fear in the public and government officials to promote the construction of a new bridge’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Bob Ortblad questions IBR’s use of a seismic video and urges a shift toward tunnel alternatives in this critical letter to the editor.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

Letter: ‘IBR’s seismic lie’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Engineer Bob Ortblad challenges the IBR Program’s claims about the I-5 Bridge’s seismic vulnerability, citing design concerns.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

Opinion: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program incompetence and deception - ClarkCountyToday.com Retired Engineer Bob Ortblad believes a new study of an immersed tunnel by a consultant independent of the IBR must be done.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

Heated exchange with top Interstate Bridge project official resurfaces It came during a meeting back in December that just surfaced online.

bikeportland.org/2023/07/12/h...

Opinion: An accusation of ‘multiple inaccuracies and defamatory statements’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance shares the full details of a critical exchange with IBR Program Administrator Greg Johnson, who objected to claims made in a recent column about the light rail and ...

IBR Administrator Greg Johnson complains about defamatory statements and inaccuracies. However, he defamed a critic at Hayden Island public meeting and continues to lie about an Immersed Tunnel alternative and current bridges seismic resilience.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

IBR Administrator Greg Johnson complains about defamatory statements and inaccuracies. However, he defamed a critic at Hayden Island public meeting and continues to lie about an Immersed Tunnel alternative and current bridges seismic resilience.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

Opinion: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program incompetence and deception - ClarkCountyToday.com Retired Engineer Bob Ortblad believes a new study of an immersed tunnel by a consultant independent of the IBR must be done.

This article was published two years ago.
The IBR has spent another $100 million, $400 million now squandered on the CRC’s failed freeway expansion and dangerous bridge design.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

bsky.app/profile/bort...

Opinion: ‘The IBR project is a perfect example of why less than 25 percent of Americans trust government’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Robert Wallis critiques the IBR project, alleging a pattern of deceit by WSDOT bureaucrats and consultants that has undermined public trust in government.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...

Will WSP’s Katy Freeway experience be applied to IBR’s $7 billion five-mile freeway expansion?
Increasing suburban sprawl and future congestion!

WSP fraudulently disqualified an Immersed Tunnel alternative, and is designing a dangerously steep bridge.

IBR plans to demolish 76 homes & 33 businesses and build 1,270 Park & Ride spaces near its freeway transit stations to serve commuters.
IBR is ignoring FTA’s encouragement of dense urban development near transit stations.

Letter: 520 Portage Bay Bridge vs. Interstate 5 bridge replacement - ClarkCountyToday.com Bob Ortblad compares the design and costs of the SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge and the proposed I-5 Bridge, arguing that the IBR program unfairly dismissed a potentially cost-saving tunnel alternative.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

IBR has difficulty with simple math!

IBR’s contract packages for its bridge add up to $200 to $330 million more than listed on IBR’s Program Cost Breakdown.

IBR Fraudulent Comparison

The IBR wildly inflated the cost of an immersed tunnel at $3 billion from grade to grade.
IBR estimated a bridge without approaches at a ridiculously low $500 million.
A bridge with approaches will currently cost $3 billion.

Letter: ‘IBR has relied on this video to instill fear in the public and government officials to promote the construction of a new bridge’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Bob Ortblad questions IBR’s use of a seismic video and urges a shift toward tunnel alternatives in this critical letter to the editor.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

WTC 2025: Immontec Showcases Immersed Tunnelling as the Future of Underwater Infrastructure Immontec will present immersed tunnelling innovations at WTC 2025 in Stockholm. Visit stand B05:21 to learn how this method supports smart, sustainable infrastructure.

Stockholm, World Tunnel Congress (WTC) 2025

Immersed Tunnels for Vancouver, BC and Antwerp, Belgium highlighted. Both tunnels are like a possible I-5 Columbia River immersed tunnel. Less cost, faster to build, more seismic resilient than bridge.
Link
immontec.com/blog/artikel...

The Bi-State Tolling Subcommittee is allowing only 5 minutes for public comment at its May 16 meeting, time for only two commentors.
The IBR is authorized to sell $2.5 billion general obligation bonds backed by the full faith of the state.
Meeting Link:
wstc.wa.gov/wp-content/u...

IBR only has single firm interested in managing the project to replace I-5 Bridge - ClarkCountyToday.com Rep. John Ley reports on serious concerns with the I-5 Bridge replacement project, including limited contractor interest, rising tolls, and a 15-year timeline.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/ibr-onl...

In 2020 before the IBR was created, I suggested the Bi-state Legislative Committee study and Immersed Tunnel. Unfortunately, the Committee has allowed engineering & public relation consultants to squander five years and $200 million trying to resurrect the failed CRC design.

Letter: ‘The IBR needs a more cost-effective design’ - ClarkCountyToday.com Bob Ortblad argues the I-5 Bridge replacement project is overbudget and inefficient, urging a more cost-effective tunnel alternative to avoid excessive tolls and taxpayer burden.

Letter: ‘The IBR needs a more cost-effective design’

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) has seven public relations and communication consulting firms on contract for $23 million.
One of them just created a brilliant community outreach using modern survey technology.

IBR Quizzes Travellers
www.bridgeweb.com/USA-replacem...

YouTube video by Oregon DOGE ODOT’s Cost Overruns Are Everywhere—Not Just Abernethy Bridge

ODOT’s Cost Overruns Are Everywhere—Not Just Abernethy Bridge
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7fU...

Only 3 minutes to approve $2.5 billion toll bonds, doubling IBR's forecasted $1.2 billion.

TVW link 5:00 to 8:00
tvw.org/video/house-...

In 2022 the IBR forecast total project cost at $6 billion.
IBR’s “2023 Financial Plan” forecast only $1.2 billion toll bonds were needed.
WA Legislature plans to issue $2.5 billion toll bonds, 11% of all WA debt.
Will IBR’s 2025 updated cost estimate also double, to $12 billion?

WA lawmakers jack up I-5 bridge borrowing plan by $900M • Washington State Standard Washington lawmakers will count on more toll revenues to pay for building of a new bridge on Interstate 5 across the Columbia River.

Inflation worries drive WA lawmakers to jack up I-5 bridge borrowing plan by $900M washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/04/08/i...

Letter: IBR’s billion dollar risk, another Abernethy Bridge financial disaster? - ClarkCountyToday.com Bob Ortblad raises concerns over the IBR project’s feasibility, comparing its costs to the Abernethy Bridge overruns and pointing to a hidden geotechnical risk.

www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...

IBR’s bridge is crazy BIG!

Seven times the width of Seattle’s demolished Alaskan Way Viaduct.