Voices from the Edge on 08/12/10

What bridge does the community need on the Columbia River? A conversation with the Third Bridge Project

Mayor Sam Adams and other local and state officials announced this week that we should build a ten-lane "iconic" bridge across the Columbia River. While that's down from the original 12 lanes proposed as a replacement for the aging I-5 bridge, many community members worry that their concerns about air quality, noise, impact on green spaces and other neighborhood livability issues have been left out of the equation. How do we improve our infrastructure while ensuring impacts are minimized and equitably distributed?

This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave talk with Sharon Nasset and Charlie Tindall of the Third Bridge Now project, a group proposing construction of a third bridge to relieve current traffic congestion, preserve neighborhood livability and safety, and create much-needed jobs, now. Tindall is a North Portland native whose family owns a large trucking company in the area has worked on local transportation issues for years. Sharon Nasset is a long-time North Portland resident who has worked on various local transportation issues including the St. Johns Bridge repair project and the I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership.