A letter to the editor from Sharon Nasset of Vancouver argues that the removal of the I-5 bridges is not necessary to add capacity across the Columbia River. Instead, Nasset suggests that a supplemental bridge could be built to increase capacity without demolishing the historic crossings.

Preserving Historic Bridges

Nasset notes that the I-5 bridges are not the problem, but rather the lack of additional crossings in the area. The bridges are currently carrying 140,000 vehicles per day, despite being designed for only 88,000. Nasset argues that adding more bridges would reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

Nasset also points out that the bridges have been deemed a Marvel Engineering feat of its time and have been recognized for their National Significance. She suggests that seismic upgrades to the bridges are possible and have been done on several other bridges in the area.

A panel of experts in 2006 recommended that upgrades to the bridges could be done to save them, and Nasset argues that this option should be explored further. She also notes that the cost of upgrading the bridges would be reasonable, considering the bridges’ value of approximately $1 billion in 2005.

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.