Welcome

The Portland-Vancouver region is poised to build a $4 billion 12-lane bridge over the Columbia River, to replace the existing I-5 spans.

The trouble is, the monster bridge won't solve any traffic problems. This site has considerable background material from the 2008 debate, as well as some new material that we are starting to add as events move forward.

CRC rally planned for April 5 at Noon in Waterfront Park; Amanda Fritz, Bill Bradbury, Robert Liberty to speak. Check it out on BikePortland.org Read about video project here. First Video here. Second Video here.

Recent Actions:

• Bicycle Transportation Alliance Comes Out Against CRC as reported by BikePortland, March 23, 2009
• Portland City Council Meeting at 3:00pm Feb. 24 Mayors support 'jumbo' bridge The Oregonian, February 24, 2009
  by Dylan Rivera Update: City Council voted 4-1 for a 12-lane bridge. Amanda Fritz the lone opponent. See BikePortland.org's coverage.
• BTA Strategy Bicycle Transportation Alliance chief toughens position, asks for allies to help. Update: Current BTA Take on "compromise".
• [Metro] Council backs Columbia River bridge with light rail, tolls The Oregonian, June 6, 2008 by Eric Mortenson
• Sustainable Development Commission to CRC: Reassess I-5 bridge project.

Check out why not:

• Time to rethink the Columbia River Crossing by Professional Engineer Gerald Fox Feb. 2009
• Columbia River bridge plans ignore effects of growth The Oregonian, June 22, 2008 by Dylan Rivera
• Washington transportation chief: Bridge funding options are scarce Vancouver Columbian, June 19, 2008 by Jeffrey Mize and Kathie Durbin
• Financial Risks of the Columbia River Crossing by economist Joe Cortright
• Clark County Land Use Is it development, not freight, behind this?
• CRC highway project hits speed bumps Bike Portland, Tuesday May 27, 2008
• A Bridge Over The River Why? Willamette Week, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 by Nigel Jaquiss
• THE $4 BILLION COLUMBIA RIVER CROSSING The Oregonian, Sunday, May 18, 2008 by Metro Councilor Robert Liberty
• On Video: Reconsidering the Crossing-April 8 Presentation to Portland Planning Commission by economist Joe Cortright (or Slides Only)
• PSU Professor of Real Estate, Will Macht, looks at the crossing.
• 21 bad reasons to build a $4 Billion Columbia River crossing
• Creating a climate-smart I-5 Columbia Crossing - Coalition for a Livable Future
• Bridge to Disaster, March 13 article in the Portland Mercury by Amy Ruiz
• Good Letter to the Portland Planning Commission
• What the proposed Columbia River Crossing bridge really gives bicyclists.
• New Washington State VMT Law to reduce future Vehicle Miles Traveled
• CRC Gas Price Forecast (confidential)
• Analysis by Lenny Anderson

What are the alternatives?

• Phased Alternatives - to the big project.
• What about the big earthquake?
• Eliminating bridge lifts
• Wrongly Eliminated Alternatives (short article to be expanded later)
• Tolls on existing bridges? (article under construction)
• Metro's Advice to CRC: (Will Metro be a doormat, or enforce their prior requests?)

Get Involved!

• Climate Smart Columbia River Crossing Coalition for a Livable Future Campaign Signup
• CRC Web Site Read/Download the DEIS and comment on it. The 60-day comment period will end July 1, 2008

Upcoming Events:

• See information about rally above.
• Note: calendar is not being kept very up-to-date.
• Calendar - upcoming events

Thanks for visiting! - Our web site with news and information regarding alternatives to the massive and expensive Columbia River Crossing project has had a construction pause, but we hope to resume updating it with more current information. However, we believe that the current content can help provide an important factual basis for discussion, and will help get you started looking into this project. Also, check out our documents, links, calendar, and "about us".