New Columbia River Bridge, R.I.P.

It's dead. The proposed Columbia River Crossing bridge on I-5 finally expired yesterday after $190 million in planning expenses, a chunk of which went to one of Gov. Kitzhaber's political insiders. Good riddance.

There may well be a need for a new I-5 bridge but this plan was the model with all the bells and whistles rather than the plain jane version adapted to our tough fiscal times. It also did not have the support of Washington or Vancouver. The CRC project was a massive sop to Kitzhaber supporters that richly deserved its fate. Scale it back, do your due diligence getting the support of our neighbors to the north and then we'll talk. 

www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/03/columbia_river_crossing_odot_t.html#incart_more_business