Press Release

Vancouver, Washington -- Heading south on I-5, nobody enjoys seeing that blinking PREPARE TO STOP sign. This fall it's more likely than not to be a round-the-clock experience for area motorists.

On April 30, 1997, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), issued a press release stating that the northbound (east) span of the Interstate (I-5) Bridge would undergo repairs this September to replace a cracked shaft in its trunnion assembly. It is estimated the repair job will take three weeks, and during this time all cross-river traffic on I-5 will share the southbound (west) span of the bridge.

The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) is pleased to announce that it plans to keep the public up-to-date on the latest news and information regarding the bridge closure. This information will be updated regularly on RTC's worldwide web site, which can be accessed at http://www.wa.gov/rtc.

As of today, considerable preliminary information has been posted and is available to the public for browsing. This includes the ODOT press release, a summary status report on the issues and plans being made, technical reports on the bridge defects, diagrams illustrating what needs to be done, a "live" image of the bridge from Smith Tower in downtown Vancouver, and a historical retrospective on the bridge. As they become available, detailed traffic management plans will be posted to alert the public as to what they should expect.

Although RTC's principal mission is one of long-term planning to meet the mobility needs of the region, this upcoming disruption in our regional traffic flow will have a significant impact on the community. RTC feels it is in the best interest of the community that everyone be aware of what is about to happen, and that with this information citizens will be better able to prepare and cooperate so that the potential impact of the bridge closure is minimized.

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For general inquiries

	Don Owings, owingsd@wsdot.wa.gov 360-905-2032 telephone 360-905-2222 facsimile Washington State Department of Transportation
		Katy Tobie, kathleen.a.tobie@state.or.us 503-731-8281 telephone 503-731-8259 facsimile Oregon Department of Transportation

or,

Regional Transportation Council
1351 Officers Row, Vancouver WA 98661
Tel: 360-737-6067
FAX: 360-696-1847
Internet: info@rtc.wa.gov