State Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, announced she is forming a group called “Bistate Bridge Crossing Coalition” for Interstate 5. There are those who believe in kicking a dead horse, such as Pike and state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center.
Pike is quoted in a March 29 story, “Pike has a new push to replace I-5 bridge,” saying “And we have to listen to the people.” Apparently she does not hear so well. Clark County residents want a third bridge over the Columbia River to relieve congestion of traffic on I-5. Replacing the I-5 Bridge would fail to relieve this congestion. Pike was quoted, “This is the corridor that needs to be worked on.” The entire corridor needs a traffic diversion to a third bridge or two more, not a replacement of the current I-5 Bridge.
I’m no traffic expert but a bridge on the west end of Hayden Island connecting to the St. John’s Bridge and to Highway 30 could bypass the Rose Quarter and Interstate 84 junctions with I-5, allowing west-side workers to avoid I-5 traffic, and could allow connecting with the west side of the Willamette River.
Don’t waste money on the I-5 dead horse. Put it to good use by building new bridges.
