91ÊÓƵ

During my two years of commuting from Portland to Vancouver for work, I would routinely curse the Interstate Bridge.

Sitting in traffic I would yell out, “Why haven’t they built a bigger bridge yet?” I also did my fair share of commuting to work on my bicycle, and on the days I rode over the bridge’s tiny pedestrian lane, I would yell out, “When are they going to build a new bridge with more room for cyclists and walkers?”

Now, in my first week as a reporter at the 91ÊÓƵ, covering transportation, it is my job to ask those questions.

Dave Thompson, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, offered to give me a crash course in the long history behind the Columbia River Crossing project. The project has been going so long, in fact, that Thompson actually reported on the issue back in 1997, when he was a reporter at News 12 (before it was bought by Fox).

What I learned in the meeting with Thompson is that there are so many organizations, bureaus and people on both sides of the river that are affected by this project, that it will be a miracle if everyone is happy with the final project.

My new commute from my home in Northeast to downtown Portland has not been without its own set of bridge related traffic issues. With the Broadway Bridge closed until September, the Rose Quarter resembles more of a Pedalpoolza event than a transit mall during my commutes. Last night I sat at the top of the Rose Quarter exit with 20 other bicyclists in the bike lane waiting for the light to change.

I’m not complaining about the bike traffic. In fact I think it’s great. I would much rather sit on my bike than be stuck in my car. Even with the added challenge of the lower deck of the Steel Bridge being shut down during the morning commute yesterday, everyone still managed to get where they needed to go in a timely manner.

I’m excited to be covering transportation issues in the area, and if you have any information that you think I need to know about, only related to transportation, shoot me an email.