Washington officials could begin jostling for a new Interstate 5 bridge.
Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle wants other jurisdictions to back a new Columbia River Crossing.
The Columbian reports that the Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a resolution backing that the Columbia River Crossing be replaced. The Council wants state lawmakers to fund a new structure, according to the Columbian.
The vote reinforces what Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle told the PBJ in February: With more residents moving to Vancouver, the region must accommodate a growing commuter base.
According to the Columbian, the resolution encourages Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the legislature to find money for a new bridge.
"We screwed up big time when our Washington legislature dumped a funding piece back in 2013," McEnerny-Ogle said earlier this year. "But in those five years, the city of Vancouver alone has 10,000 new people that moved in and they're wondering what's going on with this I-5 congestion. So it goes back to having a little education about what that was all about and who are the decision makers on this project."
McEnerny-Ogle added during the meeting that "neighboring cities and local ports" should pass similar resolutions, according to the Columbian.
A new structure could cost close to $3 billion, according to the most recent estimates. Much of the funding would need to come from the federal government.