Vancouver, British Columbia, is building an immersed tube tunnel under the Fraser River called the Highway 99 Tunnel. The Fraser River crossing project is comparable to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program in scope and size. Yet it will cost about half the cost at $4 billon and be completed by 2030. Plus, no tolls will be required.
Clark County residents do not want a large bridge impacting the beautiful view of Vancouver’s waterfront. With the help of several engineers, I built a scale model for a concept of an immersed tube tunnel under the Columbia River, which is on display at Wallis Engineering on Fourth Street.
MAX light rail is added to the Interstate Bridge Replacement proposal. MAX riders would ride from Vancouver to downtown Portland in 35 minutes — about the same travel time as C-Tran commuter buses now. A better transit option is regional passenger rail transit. Cars would use the existing tracks that Amtrak uses for a 15-minute ride from Vancouver to downtown Portland. There are existing tracks to Battle Ground also. Regional rail passengers could ride from Battle Ground to Portland in about 30 minutes.
The IBR (CRC) program has promised for 15 years to look at all options, but it has not.
