Sam Churchill shares a long list of issues with the project
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
As a Hayden Island resident, I have concerns about the proposed Interstate Bridge replacement.

Bridge issues:
- The Interstate Bridge Replacement Plan doesn’t yet know what the design is.
- The cost estimate is inaccurate. How much more than $3.5B-$5B WILL it cost?
- The Vancouver ramps (in sandy soil) would be the steepest in the country (6.7%). Dangerous. A lawsuit.
- The 3.9% incline of the bridge slows trucks by 20 mph, causing congestion. The 3.9% descent causes accidents when wet.
- Coast Guard requires 178 ft of clearance. NOT 116 ft.
- Bridge pylon rebar must go down 350 ft to hit solid ground.
- Is the license plate database sold? To whom?
- Architectural projects now provide photo-realistic rendering, often with full motion simulation. The WSDOT/ODOT drawings are inaccurate and frankly laughable. For example, light rail lacks ANY overhead catenary power infrastructure.
Island issues:
- Max train can offer NO Express service. Too many stops. Slow and inconvenient.
- The Bridge toll kills Hayden Island’s Mall.
- Manheim’s Car auction will close, taking dozens of local businesses with it.
- What reparations for loss of Mall, businesses, housing, pollution, noise, tolls, property values.
- How is Hayden Island’s large Latino and minority population served?
One bridge option is NOT an option.
- A lift or bascule bridge solves the height problem.
- An immersed tunnel solves the ramp safety violations.
- A tunnel for mass transit (a la Musk or other) is cheaper and safer.
In conclusion, the IBR project appears to violate basic safety considerations with ramps that are too steep and a height that slows traffic.
The bulk of the budget is spent “fixing” the raised highway problem, north and south of the bridge. Not the bridge. It destroys the economic vitality of Hayden Island and its future.
The height of the bridge is the main problem. That could be solved with a lift bridge or an immersed tunnel.
Sam Churchill
Hayden Island resident
Also read:
- POLL: Should the Clark County Clerk remain an elected position?Following public opposition, Clark County Council dropped a proposal to make the clerk an appointed role. Readers can now weigh in through this week’s poll on whether the clerk should remain elected.
- Opinion: Neighbors for a Better Crossing calls for a current seismic study for $7.5 Billion Interstate Bridge projectNeighbors for a Better Crossing is urging a new seismic study before construction proceeds on the $7.5 billion IBR project, raising transparency concerns and proposing an immersed tube tunnel alternative.
- Opinion: Washington’s Supreme Court hides the ball on state employee compensation offersJason Mercier criticizes the Washington Supreme Court’s decision to uphold secrecy in public employee compensation talks, calling for transparency reforms and public accountability.
- Letter: The Charterist III — Concerning the powers of the Legislative BranchJohn Jay continues his Charterist series, arguing that Clark County’s legislative branch is structurally weak and lacks the resources to balance the executive, calling for reform in the next charter review.
- Opinion: ‘Today’s Democratic Party is not our father’s Democratic Party’Editor Ken Vance reflects on how today’s Democratic Party diverges from the values he associates with his father’s generation, citing issues like taxation, gender policies, and shifting ideology in Washington state politics.
God Love you Sam Churchill!
Our bureau-Crats are ad nauseum at this point regarding the infamous discussion lagging, money grabbing, obviously NO intention of solving this; Columbia River Crossing Enigma!
It is ALL so laughable for any of us who have been following this for how many years now?
OMG! The $Millions that have been given by government to OR & WA, for this project, spent by totally indigent politicians, the leftover $$$ called back in by the government, passed back to the government, and now back again? This has got to be the LAUGHING STOCK of the Decade!!!
I rest my case. AGAIN. (There are SO MANY Cases)
P.S. ANY one who talks about the $$$ or Expenses we need for ALL the necessary projects paramount to our infrastructure, and sustainability in OUR Homeland, need take a look at the BILLIONS being sent to fight a ‘Proxy War’ in Ukraine!
Wake up people. The corruption that is going on, is certainly NOT Sustainable!