The Burnside Blog
Sauvie Island Pedestrian Bridge is Dead
Only two Fridays ago, backers led by city commish and mayoral Wanna-Be Sam Adams celebrated at the base of what would be the Sauvie Island Bridge’s new home: Spanning Interstate 405 over NW Flanders Street. As of today, that project is dead.
Adams blames rising fuel costs, which have spiked 20 percent in Portland in the past six months. While one must praise Adams for cutting costs by axing his own pet project first, I find it a tad ironic that rising fuel costs would be the reason to kill a project that would improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure and quite possible get a few more cars off of Portland’s crowded streets. The cost of fuel won’t likely decrease soon.
Even if the price of the $5.5 million span were to increase by say, 30 percent, the total cost would only only be $7 million. That seems a small price to pay for such an iconic project.
Where are the private donors when we need them?
By Penny on Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 02:32PM PDT
I agree with Skinny. If this city is to grow, we’ll need a leader. I find it surprising that the next potential leader would shy from new “green” city routes. Most Portlanders want more parks, more MAX lines, etc. Why wouldn’t they support a bike bridge? It seems likely that this idea will be back on the table once all of our ballots have been counted. Anyone?
By Stephen on Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 04:11PM PDT
I agree with skinny and penny. We need a leader with integrity – or at least some integrity and dude, you can’t honestly believe a slob like Paul Allen would consider doing something like saving a bridge.
By Skinny City Girl on Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 11:19AM PDT
It was a great idea and I commend Sam for having the guts to champion it. He backed down when it became clear that the costs would be too much—fair enough. I appreciate the idea and the energy behind the whole thing. Am I the only one who thinks the City desperately needs a leader to champion inspired ideas, even if they don’t always pan out?