Bob Ortblad’s letter “Bridge program needs to answer” (Our Readers’ Views, Sept. 10) shows a poor understanding of the basis for its design. Its design was determined by all the constraints created by the bridge’s location.
The Interstate 205 Bridge is about 2 miles long and it crosses the uninhabited Government Island, which requires no exit ramps. That length and a higher elevation on the Washington side allows the I-205 Bridge to have a 144-foot clearance with relatively gentle grade.
The Interstate 5 Bridge, however, will only be about 1 mile long and both sides have the same elevation. Hayden Island, in the middle of the bridge, has a population of over 2,000 and many commercial businesses that require entrance and exit ramps from the bridge. The Coast Guard wants the highest possible clearance, which immediately leads to the 4 percent grade and the 116-foot clearance of the replacement bridge design.
Every aspect of the I-5 replacement bridge design was made taking these sorts of constraints into consideration. In addition to all the public meetings and fact-filled information distributions, any person sending a question to info@interstatebridge.org will get a timely and detailed response that is full of facts related to their question. I know this because I sent them a question.
