Columbia River Crossing

The Great Green Bridge

At a time when politicians and business leaders are arguing over which plan best suits the new Columbia River Crossing several things remain clear. The I-5 bridge is nearly 100 years old and it produces the worst bottle-neck between Canada and Mexico. When the bridge needs to be raised it snarls traffic and wastes energy. When people are parked in six hours of traffic on their daily commute it wastes energy. Furthermore, population growth in Clark and Multnomah counties is growing steadily and it is reasonable to assume that a multipurpose bridge will ease the congestion caused from Washingtonians coming to and from Oregon to work everyday.

Lines are drawn in the sand …

The congenial approach is to suggest that no one should have their voice snubbed out by those with special interests, and there is no reason everyone can't get what they want. Our current system relies on moving vast amounts of freight throughout our interstate system so we need to expand the lanes of the highway. Similarly, we need to end our reliance on foreign fuels, have an alternative to driving, and fight climate change so the light rail option should stay also. Additionally, there are undisputable social benefits to achieve from being able to walk or ride your bicycle between Portland and Vancouver so that option should remain as well. If you can agree to those simple items (or concessions depending on whose side you're on) then the only issue now is money.

Enter: Innovation!

The green movement is rolling through America like a big bad wolf and the last hold outs to the global warming argument have seen both their straw men and straw homes toppled by the winds of change. But before leaving America for browner pastures they might consider how they frame their side of the argument for the bridge. Has anyone thought about building a green bridge? What about a 'Great Green Bridge' to rival the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco?

A green bridge offers a chance to build something truly unique to Portland and will bolster our image and economy. Furthermore, a green bridge that includes the necessary infrastructure for both commerce and commuters will save money by utilizing efficiency and common sense. We can build the bridge from recycled materials, we can have a contest for the best green design, and before we know it every blogger from PDX to Katmandu will be hyping the project. It will be something good ol' boys and green ol' boys can agree upon.

How do we pay for it?

In the 2006 Clint Eastwood film "Flags of our Fathers" heroes from the World War Two battle at Iwo Jima are schlepped around America to sell war bonds in an effort to keep the country from going bankrupt. And while I don't want to anger veterans by comparing world wars to global warming, I do want to point out American's have overcome great obstacles in the past and perhaps we can take a cue from history.

It's time we declare war on global climate change, and who better the schlep around the country selling global WARming bonds for our bridge then Al Gore himself? It's a win-win situation for all involved and another creative American solution to extreme adversity.

Here are some alternatives to building the I-5 bridge:

- banning Washingtonians from working in Oregon
- a huge water slide sending people from one side of the river to the other

Feel free to suggest more: