Oregon and Washington lawmakers got a clearer idea Friday of what a new Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River might look like, how much drivers may pay to use it and how residents of both states can stay involved as the project moves toward construction.
Legislators must come together to pass a budget bill that includes $250 million in funding for an I-5 bridge to replace the current crossing, write Indi Namkoong, Brett Morgan and Zachary Lauritzen of the Just Crossing Alliance. But Oregonians should also remain focused on the core principles that should anchor the project.
It was funding that killed the Columbia River Crossing. The original Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project was already embroiled in controversy, but the killing blow came when the Washington Senate adjourned without approving the state’s portion of the project funding in 2013.