The total cost of the project is $735 million, which includes the design and installation of the toll system, construction management and oversight by the DOT, pre-2002 design costs, and "capitalized interest" accrued on money borrowed during the 4-1/2-year construction period before tolls were collected and payments were made. Interest rates used in calculating this amount was 7 percent per year. The bridge has eight traffic lanes and two sidewalks. It carries four lanes of eastbound traffic and four lanes of westbound traffic over the Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Construction began on February 19, 2001, and was completed 1 year and 10 days later on February 8, 2002. The official groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of the future bridge's north tower. Terry Lee Lewis, chairman of the board of directors of the Port of Portland, called for bids on the project and awarded them to Kiewit Pacific Inc. at a price of $735 million. Kiewit was responsible for building the entire structure except for the approach roads that connect it to I-5 and the existing bridge. Using modular construction techniques, the company assembled prefabricated sections onsite and finished them off with concrete and steel. Each section is 53 feet long and weighs 22 tons. They were brought to the construction site by truck and then lifted into place by crane.