A six-lane bridge?
Portland transportation planners have requested a boatload of engineering documents on the much-maligned Columbia River Crossing project, reportedly with the intent of designing a much smaller Interstate 5 bridge — potentially no bigger than the existing twin spans.
The request comes as Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt takes criticism over his role in co-authoring a letter with Portland Mayor Sam Adams and others that called the current plan for a 10- to 12-lane bridge “unacceptable.” The mayors, along with Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart and Metro Council President David Bragdon, called for more local input on the $4 billion project.
Portland now appears to be taking the bull by the horns.
City officials this week requested traffic data as well as engineering plans for the crossing, which includes replacing the existing twin three-lane drawbridges, improving five miles of freeway and extending light rail through downtown Vancouver.
The documents are highly technical, said Don Wagner, the co-director of the bistate crossing office.