As a Clark County resident who commutes to Oregon, I was offended by the view of the Smarter Bridge Committee expressed in the Columbian story, “CRC foes of all stripes share concerns.” It is obvious that these individuals do not have to commute across the I-5 bridge; for those of us who have spent two hours trying to get home, or have spent 30 minutes idling in an attempt to cross the Columbia River, or have lost valuable pay because we’ve been caught by a bridge raising and late to work, a new bridge is a necessity. I’m confident that dealing with these annoyances five days a week, 52 weeks a year would alter their tune.
And to Oregon Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), who was quoted as saying, “There are lots of good alternatives. You’ve heard about a bridge to nowhere, this is a bridge project to nowhere,” please remember that the Interstate 5 Bridge connects Oregon and Washington. It doesn’t divide us, but what does divide us is endless arguing over a bridge that is sadly overdue.
Kate Summers
BATTLE GROUND