Bob Ortblad scrutinizes IBR ramp design
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
Three years ago, I created and posted a graphic of a possible “Shared Use Path.” The graphic accurately depicted the difficulty of a 100-foot climb to the bridge level. Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) officials were not happy with my depiction and promised to consider future multiple ramp designs.
The latest of these designs was presented at an IBR workshop on August 27, 2025, by Knight Architects, a costly firm from London. Knight’s design has a grade of 4%, is about a half-mile-long, with turns totaling 810-degrees.
A small model of the shared use path was presented to an IBR architectural advisory group in October.
IBR October newsletter https://mailchi.mp/interstatebridge/ibroctober2025newsletter
Knight Architects’ ramp design may have been inspired by a Disney Cruise water slide. For an average walker or biker, the distance, grade, and turns will make the climb exhausting and disorienting. The descent will be terrifying. Knight Architects has a $1.4 million contract; how much was wasted on this flawed design and model?
Bob Ortblad MSCE, MBA
Seattle
Also read:
- Opinion: Simultaneous left turns
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A judge ruled that WSDOT cannot withhold grants from C-TRAN while the agency’s board composition review process continues. - Opinion: TriMet’s fiscal cliff continues to be a warning to Clark County and Oregon residentsRep. John Ley’s opinion column details TriMet’s worsening finances, warning Clark County residents about the risks of any financial ties to the transit agency.
- Letter: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s ridiculous rampBob Ortblad critiques the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s latest shared use path ramp design and questions the purpose and cost of the project.
- Opinion: Why you can’t bribe your way to a low fixed span bridgeJoe Cortright argues that the Coast Guard is unlikely to approve the IBR’s proposed 116-foot fixed span, citing longstanding navigation requirements and past conflicts over river clearance.
Boy, a tunnel sure looks like a BETTER idea!
Additional brides and no light rail. If you had 4 or 5 crossings with simple plain bridges you could spread out the traffic. Light rail seems to be a money grab by the very people who tell you to trust them. They all seem to be doing very well as the people, the tax payer suffers because they can never get enough of your money. All their pipe dream “save the planet from falling out of the sky” scams are making you broke and them rich. Vote in garbage and your reward is expensive garbage.