Brush Prairie resident Bob Mattila doesn’t favor light rail, but he says if we can’t have a new I-5 Bridge without it, it should be put on the newer existing bridge
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
If we are ever going to get a new I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River, we need to start using some common sense in designing it. The biggest problem, I think, is the pipe dream of putting light rail on it. I don’t favor light rail, but if we can’t have a new bridge without it, put it on the newer existing bridge, the southbound one, or on the railroad bridge, a mile downriver.
The Coast Guard wants a clearance of 178 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration, (the two airports), wants 116 feet maximum height. Anything higher would make it too steep for light rail. The 178 feet might conflict with the airplane traffic from the two airports on both sides of the river. Leave the light rail off and try to get the Coast Guard and the airports to compromise with maybe 150 feet, or something similar.
Almost everything we do consists of compromises, so it’s time to make some reasonable compromises to get the bridge built, or it will never get done. I-5 veers to the east on both sides of the river so build the first new bridge on the east side. First build one bridge wide enough for five lanes. Then remove the existing northbound bridge, using the new bridge for the Northbound traffic, and build the second, (Southbound), bridge in its place with five lanes.
Bob Mattila
Brush Prairie
Also read:
- Opinion: John Ley pens letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
John Ley challenges the I-5 Bridge Replacement project, urging Secretary Pete Buttigieg to reconsider federal funding. - Marie Gluesenkamp Perez submits I-5 Bridge public commentRep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez pushes for extended I-5 Bridge public comment period.
- Expect nighttime delays on southbound I-5 near Woodland, Nov. 19
Expect delays on southbound I-5 near Woodland on Nov. 19 for lane repairs improving driving safety on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge. - Washington state still grappling with ongoing EV charging challengesWashington state faces challenges meeting demand for EV charging infrastructure, with an estimated need of 3 million ports by 2035.
- Northbound Interstate Bridge will close Monday, Nov. 18 for maintenanceNorthbound lanes on the Interstate Bridge will close Monday night for maintenance, reopening early Tuesday.
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