Kudos to Benton and Mielke: Foes of bridge plans will rally in Portland

.
Kudos to Washington State Senator Don Benton and Clark County Commissioner Tom Mielke for coming out full force in their opposition to the massive waste and fraud known as the I-5 Bridge Replacement.

While some of the more ignorant are stuck on the bizarre idea that "SOMETHING" has to be done, the idea of replacing a serviceable bridge that accomplishes nothing but a massive and colossal waste of transportation dollars combined with sucking out as much as $100,000,000 per year from our local economy for bridge tolls, in addition to heaping yet another huge tax on our commuting public, ain't that.

If the outcome of any transportation project is not decreased congestion and increased freight mobility, then the result is an epic failure.

Unfortunately for the people, those who govern us here locally have fallen in love with this idea. It's unfortunate because "love" is not supposed to be a part of governance.

With those running our government that lose sight of their duty, such as the mayor of Vancouver, they become fixated on a goal and demand that everyone else sacrifice to achieve THEIR vision... a vision that we are not going to be allowed to impact.

There is precisely zero justification for replacing this bridge. As Commissioner Mielke put it, the bridge is in "A-1 shape."

Others more ignorant about issues related to the bridge, say things like "I don't know how he comes to that conclusion on a interstate bridge that sits on 100 year old Douglas Fir pilings," and seem to be fixated on the idea that pilings, if they are in danger of failing (and the commenter offers no evidence that they are... just the age) can be replaced... and replaced without replacing the entire bridge.

None of the supporters of the bridge replacement have addressed the massive and permanent hit our local economy will take as a result of this effort. They either don't think of it, or they don't care about it.

Obviously, at some point, replacement of the I-5 bridge is something that should be considered. But not until a 3rd and 4th bridge have been built, or unless the bridge reaches a condition that makes it unrepairable.

And NO ONE indicates that to be the case.

So, bridge fanatics become closet OCD freaks, ignoring and belittling the opposition if it's opposition they don't happen to like. They lose site of the forest for the 100 year-old douglas firs... and they become fixated on forgetting that ANY opposition to this massive, colossal and unforgivable waste of money is GOOD opposition.

Political pragmatism is the order of the day... for everyone. And to suggest that those elected down here, while buried in a minority in Olympia are not doing all they can to stop the Pridemore/Wallace gerrymandering bill is both moronic and an insult to those who have done more before 9:00 a.m. to kill this deal then some disgruntled idiots have in the entirety of their lives.

Thanks again to all of the responsible public officials who represent us and actually LISTEN to those they would govern.

Illegitimus non tatum carborundum.

Local NewsFoes of bridge plans will rally in Portland
They’ll highlight possible alternatives to a 12-lane crossing
Thursday, April 2 8:17 p.m.

BY JEFFREY MIZE
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER


A collection of interests, from environmental activists in Portland to third-bridge supporters in Vancouver, will assemble in Portland this Sunday.

Their goal? Demonstrate unified opposition to the proposed Columbia River Crossing, which would replace the Interstate 5 Bridge with two spans, each with as many as six lanes.

The rally begins at noon Sunday in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, near the west side of the Morrison Bridge, and will include speakers, information booths and anything else to encourage opposition to the crossing project.

Rally organizer Joe Kurmaskie said the event will highlight alternatives to a project that opponents see as a throwback to the days when gas was cheap and the auto was king.

"Unless we've got another planet or two in our pocket, we are really going to have to change our habits," he said. "I don't think we can build our way out of congestion. It hasn't worked in Atlanta or Houston or Los Angeles."

Alternatives include tolling both the I-5 and Interstate 205 bridges, retrofitting the existing I-5 Bridge, tweaking freeway ramps and maybe even building a smaller replacement bridge, Kurmaskie said.

"This is a not a 'no build' rally," he said. "There is no consensus as to what all those alternatives should be. But there is consensus that this mega-bridge, 12 lanes, is going to create more problems than it's going to solve."

The crossing project also would extend light rail from the Expo Center in north Portland to Clark College and rebuild six freeway interchanges, four in Vancouver and two in Portland. The entire project, bridge, highway and transit, would cost $3.5 billion or more.

Sunday's rally will attract opponents from Oregon and Washington. Shumway residents John Kangas will lead a group of bicyclists that will assemble in Vancouver's Esther Short Park at 10:30 a.m. and pedal to the rally in downtown Portland.

More: