Environmental groups push for new I-5 bridge design

The Portland Tribune, Nov 5, 2009, Updated Nov 6, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

A group of environmental organizations wants to toss out the proposed massive Columbia River Crossing bridge project and start over.

The organizations said Thursday that Oregon and Washington officials should scrap plans for an estimated $4 billion, 12-lane Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River into Vancouver, Wash. Leaders of the groups said planning for a new bridge should use a new approach that starts with region’s shared values of economic vitality, affordable transportation, safe and healthy neighborhoods and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

“We need a new plan,” said Jill Fuglister, co-director of Coalition for a Livable Future, one of the five organizations calling for the change. “Portland-Vancouver has long been a model of sustainability. If done right, a new project could help the region take our sustainable transportation legacy to the next level. If done wrong, it would irreparably tarnish our green credentials.”

Besides the coalition, the environmental groups calling for the change are the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Environment Oregon, Environment Washington and Upstream Public Health.

Replacing the old bridge

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