The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program board released a second batch of designs for a replacement Interstate 5 bridge during an executive steering group meeting on Tuesday, March 5.
The visuals show each of the bridge configurations — single-level, double-level and moveable span — being analyzed in a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) from different viewpoints close to the proposed structure or while traveling on the shared use paths in these areas, the bridge replacement program website states.
“You can get an idea of scale by looking at the pedestrians. So, once again, this is going to be a bigger bridge than currently exists,” Greg Johnson, program administrator, said during the meeting while unveiling the visuals.
The new renderings provide perspectives from Hayden Island, the Vancouver waterfront, as well as from on the bridge.
The visuals include one example bridge type for each of the configurations. They do not represent a complete range of bridge types being considered, the website states.
“Greg [Johnson] are you showing us the really ugly stuff so we don’t get our hopes up?” asked Anne McEnerny-Ogle, mayor of Vancouver, in response to the renderings.
Johnson added that he has a team constantly working on esthetics.
“As we start moving towards the selection of one configuration — we want to have them focus on the esthetic alternatives for that one configuration,” he said. “That’s why we are not ready with esthetic treatments yet.”
No decision has been made on the bridge type or configuration at this time, the website added.
The draft SEIS is scheduled to be published in the spring and give people an understanding of the various impacts associated with each bridge configuration. The community can review and provide feedback during a 60-day public comment period on the website at that time.
“Community feedback is an important consideration that will help identify a bridge configuration to be included in the final SEIS and federal record of decision (ROD). Piers, rails and other elements will be finalized in the design phase of the program following publication of the ROD,” the website states.
To view more renderings and further information, visit interstatebridge.org.
