Brush Prairie resident Robert Mattilla shares the continued problems with plans for the I-5 Bridge replacement project
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
The last time I checked, The Coast Guard, in charge of river traffic, and The Federal Aviation Administration, in charge of the airports, one on both sides of the river, are ninety feet apart on the height of the bridge. If they have not compromised in the 15 years of planning the bridge, they never will.
The best option I see is to expand the I-205 Bridge with another bridge on both sides of the existing ones, as there is no height problem there, and expand the roads leading to I-205. The other alternative would be to make the new bridges lift bridges. Otherwise it is a waste of time and money to keep on planning something that CANNOT BE BUILT.
I am not in favor of light rail, but putting it on the new bridge is not a good idea. If we can’t have a new bridge without it, put it on the railway bridge a mile west, or on the newer one of the existing bridges, the southbound one. In the case of a bridge lift, buses could fill in.
Bob Mattila
Brush Prairie
- Goodbye, bumpy ride on I-5 in Vancouver
Three coordinated WSDOT projects will improve more than 6 miles of I-5 in Clark County, backed by a $25 million investment. - Nighttime work on I-5 between Ridgefield and Woodland will replace damaged concrete panels Sept. 14-19
Granite Construction will close right and center lanes nightly on I-5 between mileposts 9.5 and 21.5 through Sept. 19. - County seeks volunteers to serve on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Clark County seeks two volunteers, including one youth member, for its Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; deadline is Oct. 11, 2026. - Washington Rep. John Ley warns ballooning bridge budget needs reality check
Rep. John Ley says the IBR ballooned from a $44M contract to a $13B–$15B project, with phase one still $2.2B short. - POLL: The IBR project is described as only 30% designed and 30% funded after more than six years of work. How confident are you in the current management of the IBR program?
IBR’s cost has climbed from $3.2–$4.8B to $15.2B while the project remains 30% designed and 30% funded.
