The Columbia River Crossing is one of the most complex transportation projects in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a two-state endeavor contending with roadway and transit elements in an urban setting, historic structures, endangered fish species, a major shipping channel, two international ports and two airports.
Can it be done? Is it really worth the investment?
Absolutely.
The next time you are waiting for a bridge lift, or are caught in 10-mph traffic trying to pick up kids or get to work, consider these four key benefits of the CRC.
• First, safety: The ramps and merge lanes in the project area, such as those from state Highway 500 and state Highway 14 to southbound Interstate 5, have high crash rates. The I-5 Bridge has no safety shoulders and narrow lanes. When the bridge lifts for ships, you are four times more likely to be involved in a wreck — probably a rear-ender. The CRC project will fix the ramps, shoulders, merge lanes and sight lines so you can reach highway speeds before merging, have space to pull over to fix a flat, and never be surprised by stopped traffic due to a bridge lift. We’ll replace our current 1917-era bridge with one able to withstand a major earthquake.
• Second, economic strength: Freight industries support about 130,000 family-wage jobs at warehouses and distribution centers near the ports of Vancouver and Portland. More than $40 billion worth of freight moves across the Interstate 5 Bridge each year, expected to increase to more than $70 billion by 2030. Without action, freight trucks will get squeezed by congestion in nearly all daylight hours. According to a 2005 study, up to 6,500 jobs per year could be lost by 2025 without investments. A thriving economy needs a modern and reliable transportation system that the CRC project will provide. And while we are building the project, construction will support an average of 1,900 jobs per year for about 10 years.
