Federal Highway Administration is funding a dangerous 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

The Federal Aviation Administration’s certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX resulted in two plane crashes and 346 deaths. The FAA issued a $2.5 billion face-saving fine.

In a grim coincidence, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) is asking for $2.5 billion in federal grants to build a dangerous bridge. During the 100-life of its bridge, there will be thousands of crashes and an untold number of injuries and deaths. A 737 software flaw was hidden in a million lines of code. 

The IBR’s I-5 Bridge design flaws are obvious to anyone who has driven across the I-205 Bridge, just upstream. Its grade, curve, rain, wind, and ice make it a perilous crossing. The I-205 Bridge is ranked by Go Save Labs as the nation’s eighth most dangerous accident hotspot. The IBR I-5 Bridge design will be almost twice as steep (4%), have the same weather, antiquated cloverleafs, limited sight distance, a 7% off-ramp to SR-14, and I-205-style curve. Bridge crashes will be frequent and over time injuries and deaths will equal a plane crash.

The Federal Highway Administration recently awarded the IBR its first federal grant, $1 million to do a redundant study on liquefaction during an earthquake. Ten years ago the Columbia River Crossing spent $12 million on a dozen geotechnical consultants and $31 million on WSDOT management and geotechnical studies. Continued funding of the IBR by the FWHA should stop until the IBR has a safe design.

The IBR continues to ignore a safer and less costly immersed tunnel alternative.

Bob Ortblad MSCE, MBA
Seattle

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Inviting courts into health care policy discussion
  Elizabeth New (Hovde) warns that Senate Joint Resolution 8206 could invite lawsuits by placing vague health care mandates into Washington’s Constitution.
• 
  Opinion: 24 States In. Washington Out? $732 Million Lost?
  Vicki Murray argues Washington risks forfeiting $732 million in federal education funding if state leaders do not opt into the federal tax-credit scholarship program.
• 
  Opinion: Nationwide strike in support of illegals and opposing the rule of law?
  Lars Larson argues that a reported nationwide strike reflects opposition to immigration enforcement and the rule of law, criticizing political leaders and media coverage.
• 
  POLL: Should councilors serving on boards be required to vote the way the full council decides?
  A new poll asks whether Clark County councilors serving on boards should be required to vote in line with the full council’s position or retain independent judgment.
• 
  Opinion:  Olympia wants a 4-day work week. It won’t work out as the politicians think it will
  Mark Harmsworth argues that House Bill 2611’s proposed 32-hour workweek would raise costs, strain small businesses, and undermine Washington’s economic competitiveness.