I read William Seekamp’s excellent bridge article “Why alternative I-5 Bridge replacement ideas won’t work” in the Sept. 18 Columbian three times. It spoke of a bascule bridge option, but not of a “regular” drawbridge like the one that has worked for 100 years. I thought the most interesting part of the article was that the reason the current bridge has to open as often as it does is because it doesn’t line up with the BNSF bridge. Making modifications to the BNSF bridge was mentioned and caused me to wonder why that hasn’t already been worked on.
I’m not an engineer. But I think a new drawbridge like the current one, with four lanes in each direction and maybe a shoulder lane, would work. It could be done with a footprint very similar to the current one. It would also satisfy the Coast Guard.
The push for light rail reminds me of the push for electric cars. We are being told they will soon be forced upon us, along with more power blackouts. I have huge concerns about how “green” millions more used-up car batteries will actually be. And I think in a free America, we should be able to choose to drive gasoline, hybrid and/or electric cars.
