Oregon Public Broadcasting

Leaders of cities, ports and transportation districts around Portland, agreed Monday on key aspects of a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River. 

An artist's rendering of the proposed I-5 bridge.

They agreed the new Columbia River Crossing ought to be 10 lanes wide -- not 12. And they agreed on a scaled-down interchange at Hayden Island.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams, called the vote a significant step forward.

Sam Adams: "We still have a lot of work to do. There's no question about it. But today represents some significant progress in a more rational Columbia River Crossing."

Adams and the other members of the 'Project Sponsors Council' are only advisors. Governors of Oregon and Washington have to sign-off on the final bridge design.

Meanwhile, an Independent Review of the project did come up with another problem. The kind of bridge being suggested has only been built once before -- in Japan. Where it came in three times over budget and is now showing a number of cracks.

On the Web:

http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/