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Bridge Options

The Columbia River Crossing project is considering two primary options to improve the way we cross the river in vehicles, on public transit, on bicycles or on foot:

1)     Replacement bridge

2)     Supplemental bridge

Replacement Bridge

 The replacement bridge option calls for new structures that:

• Have three through-travel lanes and two or three auxiliary lanes for entering and exiting the highway
• Have dedicated lanes for high capacity transit and pedestrians
  and bicycles
• Provide sufficient clearance for marine traffic and avoid Pearson Field airspace
• Are built immediately west (downstream) of the current I-5 bridges
  

Benefits of a replacement bridge:

• Additional travel lanes would improve safe traffic operations and travel times
• On-and off-ramps (interchanges) near the bridge would be lengthened to make merging safer
• Standard safety shoulders would provide space for
  disabled vehicles
• Wider lanes and better connections would be created for pedestrian and bicycle access across the bridge
• Bridge lifts would be eliminated
• Fewer bridge piers would make it easier for boats and barges to navigate the river

Supplemental Bridge

The supplemental bridge option calls for retaining the existing bridges and building a new bridge directly west. The new supplemental bridge would:

• Carry three through lanes and one auxiliary lane for southbound I-5 traffic as well as high capacity transit
• Be high enough to avoid bridge lifts that would disrupt the public transit system
• Be aligned with the existing bridges to prevent unnecessary weaving by marine traffic

The existing I-5 bridges would:

• Be re-striped to carry three through lanes and one auxiliary lane for northbound I-5 traffic
• Have standard safety shoulders
• Have wider paths for pedestrians and bicycles
• Be retrofitted to meet current seismic standards to avoid collapse in the event of a major earthquake

Benefits of the supplemental bridge option:

• Additional travel lanes would improve safe traffic operations and travel times
• Short on-and off-ramps (interchanges) near the bridge would be lengthened to make merging safer
• Standard safety shoulders would provide space for
  disabled vehicles
• Wider lanes and better connections would be created for pedestrians and bicycles on existing bridge