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:
- Opinion: ‘A more responsible approach must be sought’
Ken Vance argues a $10 billion funding gap makes the phased I-5 Bridge approach fiscally reckless, not responsible. - POLL: Do patriotic displays like Yacolt’s road striping help strengthen community spirit?
A Yacolt road striping project tied to America’s 250th anniversary is dividing opinion in Clark County. - Opinion: The challenges of getting the Brockmann mental health facility open
A $42 million, 48-bed mental health campus near WSU Vancouver was completed in 2025 but never opened due to lack of state funding. - Opinion: Washington’s business exodus accelerates due to high taxes, regulations driving companies away
Washington’s business relocation rate has nearly tripled since winter 2025, per an AWB survey. - Letter: Food service, public health, and the Men’s Share House question
Peter Bracchi asks why Share House’s 96,987 annual meals face less public-health scrutiny than a waterfront restaurant.
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