Listen
In 2013 the Washington Legislature killed the idea of a bigger, safer bridge between Portland and Vancouver, Washington. Three years later, Washington state lawmakers could take preliminary votes to revive plans to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River.
Association of Washington Business Government Affairs Director Mike Ennis testified Monday a new bridge is "critical" to the whole region's economy.
"This project is sometimes characterized as a Southwest Washington problem,” Ennis said. “However, I can tell you that traffic congestion due to the Interstate 5 bridge negatively impacts freight mobility and the economy not only of Washington state, but the entire U.S. West Coast."
A trio of bipartisan bills in the Washington Legislature: HB 1222, HB 2905 and SB 5806, would create some form of bi-state work group to begin planning a replacement I-5 bridge. Preliminary votes could be held as early as Tuesday afternoon.
A previous plan would have made the new span a toll bridge.The current legislation does not specify how a new bridge would be paid for or if it would have room for light rail. The politics of light rail helped kill the deal last time around.
The Oregon Legislature has so far not reciprocated Washington state's renewed interest in interstate bridge planning.
Copyright 2017 Northwest News Network
Related Stories:
UPDATES: I-5 Amtrak Train Derailment Brings Investigation, Lawsuits And Many Questions
An Amtrak train on its inaugural run from Seattle to Portland derailed Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2017, sending at least one train car off an overpass and onto a busy Interstate 5 below. The derailment happened in DuPont, about 40 miles south of Seattle near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, before 8 a.m. during morning rush hour.
Read More » Scott Leadingham January 2, 2018
By Bullet Train From Portland To Seattle To Vancouver, BC? Feasibility Study Underway
With an assist from Microsoft, Washington state’s Department of Transportation has launched a feasibility study of bullet train service in Cascadia. Late this spring, the
Read More » Tom Banse July 27, 2017
Lawmakers Move To Revive Plan To Replace I-5 Bridge Over Columbia River
In 2013 the Washington Legislature killed the idea of a bigger, safer bridge between Portland and Vancouver, Washington. Three years later, Washington state lawmakers could take preliminary votes to revive plans to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River.
Read More » Tom Banse February 21, 2017
Related Stories:
Big (And Fishy) Problem: Salmon Losing Their Genetic Diversity
Researchers had long suspected salmon have lost huge amounts genetic diversity over the years. But they’d never tested the hypothesis — until now.
Read More » Courtney Flatt January 10, 2018
Salmon Plan Approved Allowing More Water Over Columbia River Dams
A federal judge has approved a plan to spill more water through dams in the Columbia River Basin this spring.
Read More » Cassandra Profita January 10, 2018
UPDATES: I-5 Amtrak Train Derailment Brings Investigation, Lawsuits And Many Questions
An Amtrak train on its inaugural run from Seattle to Portland derailed Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2017, sending at least one train car off an overpass and onto a busy Interstate 5 below. The derailment happened in DuPont, about 40 miles south of Seattle near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, before 8 a.m. during morning rush hour.
Read More » Scott Leadingham January 2, 2018