Out with the old                                      In with the new



The debate goes on concerning the Columbia River Crossing; at first I did not like the proposal but then changed my mind when I was stuck in rush hour traffic and seen what a cluster bang traffic flow was and could understand drivers frustration. Now I like the idea of a new bridge that would ease congestion between Washington and Oregon. Many people do not like the idea of a toll bridge, and the differences in toll fares between peek driving or off peek hours seems a small concern. I would suggest a compromise between the toll prices and make it one fare, an even amount and forget the change. Some of you may remember that there use to be a toll on the Longview Bridge for many years and the Astoria Bridge as well. The tolls help pay for the cost of the construction, I think that these bridges should always charge a toll to use the structure, that way when repairs are needed the funds would be there. And everyone using the structure would help pay for it.

Building a new bridge would put many people back to work in the area, construction jobs are far and few between and the construction workers need work. Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country; people are in desperate need of work. With a project this large it would employ hundreds of people in many different crafts and service related businesses for several years. The trickle down effect to other parts of the community would see an increase of goods and services. People would buy homes, keep the one they have, purchase goods and the economy would prosper.

Some of the opponents believe that we need to spend the money for the bridge on education, well I think that during these hard economic times we need to get America back to work, when we achieve this people would be more willing to support education issues. Right now people are losing their homes and a job is important at this time.

Portland is growing as well as Vancouver, as they say you cannot stop progress and Portland needs a better infrastructure to meet these needs. The cost to build a new bridge will only rise each year, and I believe we have studied this issue to death spending tax dollars for study after study, the time is right, lets begin ground breaking on the Columbia River Crossing project.