Oregon Public Broadcasting

The parade of local agencies taking up the controversial plan to replace the Interstate bridge continues this week.

The Portland and Vancouver city councils, and two regional transit groups gave their conditional support for the Columbia River Crossing project last week.  As Andrew Theen reports, the Metro Council is next to take a stand on the proposed light rail bridge project.

Portland Mayor-elect Sam Adams said the lift span on the Interstate Bridge impedes traffic and causes accidents,  and he says ultimately that's a problem he can't ignore.

But Metro Councilor Roberty Liberty doesn't seem to have a problem with the status quo.   Liberty says the Interstate Bridge is structurally sound and doesn't need to be replaced.

He has a cheaper solution:  put a lift span on the nearby railroad bridge, which he says would make river navigation easier too.

Liberty says only a couple dozen boats need the Interstate bridge to lift to get under it.

Robert Liberty: "It may be cheaper for taxpayers to buy each of the owners of those 24 boats a replacement boat or an additional boat and station it upstream or downstream to avoid the lift, perhaps saving a couple billion dollars."

Metro took a preliminary vote a few weeks ago on whether to support a new bridge with light rail.

After hours of public testimony, a majority of the council favored that option.