Bob Ortblad believes preserving the current bridges for non-tolled local traffic and building an immersed tunnel solves several problems with the IBR’s tolled bridge 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

At the Aug. 26th Bi-state Tolling Subcommittee meeting, an Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR) consultant said that approximately 45,000 vehicles (36%) enter and exit within the five-mile project area. These short trips should not use the freeway because frequent merging and exiting contribute to congestion and crashes.

Bob Ortblad

Preserving the current bridges for non-tolled local traffic and building an immersed tunnel solves several problems with the IBR’s tolled bridge design.

• Provide toll-free access to people who live and work on Hayden Island.

• Reduce Interstate traffic and congestion by reducing 45,000 daily vehicles, 36%.

• Reduce congestion and crashes due to less merging and existing.

• Eliminate long, massive bridge approaches that are a visual blight and will rain down noise and pollution.

• Eliminate elevated bridge approaches that are more prone to black ice and have a -3% grade with a sharp S-curve.

• Eliminate a dozen 50-foot-wide bridge piers that will harbor salmon predators.

• An immersed tunnel is more earthquake-resilient, and preserving current bridges adds redundancy.

• Save $141 million in impact payments to upstream businesses.

• Save $390 million by not demolishing the current bridges.

• Avoid the high risk and cost ($250-$500 million) of 96 drilled shafts and 1,775 temporary piles.

• Reduce construction time and cost because tunnel segments can be fabricated in local shipyards and are not as restricted by in-water work windows.

• Protect both Fort Vancouver and the Vancouver Waterfront Public Market from the impact of bridge approaches.

• Provide a better bike and walking path on modified current bridges.

The IBR has fraudulently disqualified a safer immersed tunnel alternative. It is not too late to reject IBR’s bridge and build an immersed tunnel. Citizens of Baltimore, Maryland rejected a freeway bridge design to protect historic Fort McHenry. Citizens of Vancouver, Canada rejected a bridge design to protect the Fraser River’s environment. Citizens of Antwerp, Belgium decisively rejected a massive bridge design via the first public referendum in the entire history of the city of Antwerp.

Bob Ortblad MSCE, MBA
Seattle

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansion
  A House amendment requiring a referendum before any income threshold change was voted down 45-51.
• Opinion: Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansion
  A House amendment requiring a referendum before any income threshold change was voted down 45-51.
• 
  POLL: The IBR project is described as only 30% designed and 30% funded after more than six years of work. How confident are you in the current management of the IBR program?
  IBR’s cost has climbed from $3.2–$4.8B to $15.2B while the project remains 30% designed and 30% funded.
• 
  Opinion: Two bridges, one expanding bill
  Bracchi traces how the IBR’s estimated cost grew from roughly $3B to $14.4B as Vancouver’s Bridge Shelter adds millions in annual operating costs alongside existing homelessness programs.
• 
  Opinion: WFSE demands a ‘fair’ contract — but workers and taxpayers can’t see the numbers
  Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues neither state workers nor taxpayers can evaluate what is “fair” when wage proposals and their costs remain undisclosed.