The speed of the process of building a new Interstate 5 bridge might soon resemble 3 a.m. traffic between Washington and Oregon, rather than 3 p.m.
Thanks to the passing of Senate Bill 6195, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, once the parameters of a new bridge are in place, the process itself could be simpler and faster.
The bill would speed up transportation projects deemed to have statewide significance, like the I-5 bridge. The Washington State Department of Transportation would develop an application for the designation of the projects and the criteria.
“While we continue to promote the development of a bridge plan, we are also taking pains to make the process move more quickly once that plan is finalized,” Cleveland said in a news release. “This legislation has the support of the full seven-member coalition of Southwest Washington legislators who have been working together to move our state forward on this essential project.”
The legislators Cleveland is referring to are: Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center; Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver; Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver; Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver; Rep. Paul Harris, D-Vancouver; and Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Vancouver.
“A bridge can be viewed simply as a means of moving vehicles across water, but this project means so much more than that; it’s a bridge to our future economic development and prosperity,” Cleveland said in the release. “Just as the existing bridges were the keys to our past economic growth, a new bridge is a key to future growth. If we want healthy communities, we need meaningful jobs that pay a family wage and businesses to be able to efficiently move freight and goods. For that, we need adequate infrastructure that can support the businesses that provide good jobs.”
Last Wednesday, Feb. 14, the I-5 bridge turned 101 years old. As of print deadline, the bill was still in the House.
