In his May 28 opinion column, Greg Jayne wrote about his interview with Ed Barnes, Bob Schaefer and Al Bauer, who lead the I-5 Bridge Replacement Group (“Jayne: Leadership, knowledge crucial in replacing I-5 Bridge,” The Columbian). They are on the right path. With regard to transportation across the Columbia River, the first priority has to be replacement of the I-5 Bridge.
The I-5 Bridge serves a proven and critical need. Losing it, even briefly, would be devastating. The addition of crossings up- or downriver, fixing traffic around the Moda Center, and other projects, while important, do not have the existential implications of the I-5 crossing. Bistate agreement, funding, planning, engineering and construction must first be assured for maintaining and enhancing the I-5 crossing and the corridor it serves.
To best serve mobility needs, the project cannot be highway-only. High-capacity public transportation (light, heavy or commuter rail) will be indispensable, as it has proven to be throughout the country.
Together, the Washington and Oregon shores have grown into a single interdependent region, regardless of political boundaries. Fortunately, the two states are setting aside some differences that have long stymied the I-5 project. Now they need to put it into high gear.
