Brush Prairie resident Robert Mattilla shares the continued problems with plans for the I-5 Bridge replacement project

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

The last time I checked, The Coast Guard, in charge of river traffic, and The Federal Aviation Administration, in charge of the airports, one on both sides of the river, are ninety feet apart on the height of the bridge. If they have not compromised in the 15 years of planning the bridge, they never will. 

The best option I see is to expand the I-205 Bridge with another bridge on both sides of the existing ones, as there is no height problem there, and expand the roads leading to I-205. The other alternative would be to make the new bridges lift bridges. Otherwise it is a waste of time and money to keep on planning something that CANNOT BE BUILT. 

I am not in favor of light rail, but putting it on the new bridge is not a good idea. If we can’t have a new bridge without it, put it on the railway bridge a mile west, or on the newer one of the existing bridges, the southbound one. In the case of a bridge lift, buses could fill in.  

Bob Mattila
Brush Prairie