Editor,
Vancouver, British Columbia is building an immersed tube tunnel under the Fraser River called the Highway 99 Tunnel. The Fraser River crossing is comparable to the IBR in scope and size. Yet it will cost about half the cost at $4 billion, Canadian dollars, and be completed by 2030.
Plus no tolls will be required. Four billion Canadian dollars equals about $3 billion U.S. The IBR bridge design now estimated to cost $6 billion to $8 billion was soundly rejected in 2012. Clark County residents don’t want to pay tolls for a large bridge impacting the beautiful view of the Vancouver waterfront. With the help of several local engineers, I built a scale model for a concept of an immersed tube tunnel under the Columbia River, which is on display at Wallis Engineering at Fourth and Columbia.
MAX light rail is also added to the IBR proposal. MAX riders would ride from Vancouver to Portland in 35 minutes, about the same time as CTRAN commuter buses now. A better transit option is regional passenger rail transit. Regional passenger rail cars would use the existing tracks AMTRAK uses for a 15-minute ride from Vancouver to downtown Portland. There are existing tracks to Battle Ground also. Regional rail passengers could ride from Battle Ground to Portland in about 30 minutes.
The IBR (CRC) program has promised for over 15 years to look at all options. The IBR is more highway expansion with very little travel time reduction.
Dave Rowe
Battle Ground
