A proposed East County Bridge would offer new traffic lanes and pedestrian paths without tolls or light rail — but would it move the region forward?
The idea of an East County Bridge—positioned east of the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge near 192nd Avenue—has resurfaced as a more affordable, common-sense alternative to the $7.5 billion I-5 Bridge replacement project. Proposed without tolls or light rail, the East County Bridge would add much-needed capacity and a new freight corridor between Clark County and Oregon. Supporters say it’s a faster, more practical solution to regional congestion. Opponents argue light rail and tolling must be part of the long-term plan.
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Opinion: ‘The obvious conclusion is to take a simpler, more affordable first step to improving our regional transportation issues’
Ken Vance urges support for the East County Bridge, a toll-free alternative to costly I-5 plans, citing past voter approval and faster, more affordable congestion relief...
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Also read:
- Opinion: ‘If they want light rail, they should be the ones who pay for it’
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance argues that supporters of light rail tied to the I-5 Bridge replacement should bear the local cost of operating and maintaining the system through a narrowly drawn sub-district. - Opinion: IBR falsely blaming inflation
Joe Cortright argues that inflation explains only a small portion of the IBR project’s cost increases and that rising consultant and staff expenses are the primary drivers. - Letter: The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $141 million bribe can be better spent on sandwich steel-concrete tubes
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel using sandwich steel-concrete tubes would be a more cost-effective alternative to the current Interstate Bridge Replacement Program design. - A sub-district vote could be a way to go to pay O&M costs associated with light rail
Clark County Council members heard details on how a voter-approved C-TRAN sub-district could be created to fund long-term operations and maintenance costs for light rail tied to a new Interstate Bridge. - Letter: British Columbia’s new immersed tunnel can solve Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $17.7 billion problem
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel similar to a project underway in British Columbia could significantly reduce costs and impacts associated with the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.
yes and add another or even two. No lite rail on any of them.
How do you pay for more bridges and what do you connect to? A new I-5 bridge will do little to relieve congestion which is worse every day with the increasing amount of crashes. Many vehicles only have just the driver. There needs to be a viable source of transportation to get people quickly to major areas across the river. Light rail is the most reliable and works well in many areas.
Light rail may be reliable but it will not solve the problem. All you have to do is Look @ rush hour any day or lunch hour on a Friday. All those folks have different destinations and are not going to take a rail ride to Portland then find their way on to their destination.
I’m in full support. Especially if it can get done before 2030?
East county is a poor choice, one already exists, it’s called I-205. What is needed is a west county belt route, feeding to Beaverton/ Hillsboro and around towards Wilsonville, similarly to how the I-205 operstes. Do that, and congestion will be equalized, and you’ll find with a parallel distribution networked roadway, life will become manageable regarding commuter frustration.
I believe this should be the priority, not the I-5 bridge. That is an absurd project, ot leads nowhere regarding reducing the congestion. Both North and South ends are not expandable with out imminent domain of thousands of properties. Furthermore. The bridge overpass network would have to be completely revamped to support more traffic.
I believe an east county and a west county bridge would reduce traffic on the I5 and 205 bridges.The goal should be giving drivers the option to bypass Portland instead of having to drive thru it.Light rail at a billion per mile should not be considered. Clark County IS NOT a part of the Portland Metro area and should not be treated as such. Clark County is in Washington State not Oregon.
Your poll is disingenuous. To group together tolls and light rail, your poll was designed to get the results you “achieved”. Go to any successful country, anywhere in the world, and you will find a public transportation system that helps all citizens in many ways.