@bortblad.bsky.social
Civil Engineer, MBA 40-years P.E. & CPA Historian of 200 years of infrastructure Explored 70 countries
Who Stole the People’s Money? – Do Tell
'twas him
Interstate Bridge: $273 million on consultants for “basically the same project”?
Joe Cortright
CityCommentary
Link:
cityobservatory.org/basically_th...
IBR’s bridge approach will destroy the value the of Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1 Vancouver Landing development.
Public Health research has proven within 500 feet or even 1,000 feet of a freeway cause higher rates cancer, asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and pre-term births.
IBR’s video omits Vancouver’s future Public Market and new ZoomInfo HQ, both will be impacted with noise, toxic pollution, and have their views destroyed by IBR bridge approach.
Video also omits the Hurley Building, planned for demolition.
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=719k...
“JUST DO IT” and “Keeping the lights on” are not rational arguments to approve $2 billion for the IBR.
Jeff Baker stated the facts, no bridge design, and no cost estimate. No reason to approve $2 billion.
"I also struggle with the notion that we’re putting $2 billion forward here without having an answer on what this bridge is going to look like… I can’t support the request based on wrong information.”
— Jeff Baker, Oregon Transportation Commission
bikeportland.org/2025/10/30/n...
Greg Johnson is jumping ship!
IBR may want to delete its link to last summer’s political love fest of President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America”.
Link:
www.flickr.com/photos/19413...
Greg is leaving his political crew on a sinking ship.
Is the Interstate Bridge Destined to Fail?
Joe Cortright interviewed on the Lars Larson Show
Link;
cityobservatory.org/lars-larson-...
NMF co-founder Joe Cortright @cityobservatory.bsky.social spoke to KGW about the latest updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement - turns out the project is not doing so hot!
Where’s the accountability from the Oregon legislature and the Governor?
#orpol #orleg
IBR also lied about an immersed tunnel alternative. They fraudulently inflated excavation by four times.
"Interstate Bridge Replacement Program incompetence and deception"
www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...
www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...
Time to stop dumping money on 1960's style freeway and dangerous bridge.
"The IBR has spent more than $200 million on consultants, on top of $200 million spent a decade ago on the CRC, ... are a virtual scene-for-scene remake of its predecessor in 2014."
www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opin...
What if nobody ever came to Port of Vancouver's Terminal 1 Public Market?
A New Orleans Neighborhood Confronts the Racist Legacy of a Toxic Stretch of Highway
NPR:
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
A tunnel will protect the citizens of Vancouver. IBR’s bridge approach will inflict 100 years of noise, toxic pollution, and visual blight on Vancouver’s downtown and riverfront.
Part II: Proposed I-5 Bridge replacement
www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/part-ii...
Greg Johnson had a massive conflict of interest. He was a WSP Senior VP. Hired as the IBR Administrator he managed a $76 million contract with WSP.
25.10.2025 00:39 — 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
Breaking news: Interstate Bridge Replacement Project Administrator Greg Johnson is stepping down from his role in the project effective Dec. 31.
He will be replaced by Carley Francis from WashDOT.
IBR's cost could double or triple.
Oregon DOT’s “Reign of Error” grows worse.
By Joe Cortright
cityobservatory.org/reign_of_err...
WSDOT failed to reduce noise on SR 520, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and I-5 Ship Canal Bridge.
IBR's bridge will be loud!
Port of Vancouver's $84 million Public Market will be spoiled by IBR's loud overhanging bridge.
www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/lett...
IBR administrator Greg Johnson at every public meeting pleads to get “shovels in the ground”.
He wants to dig a Willie Brown hole.
“Start digging a hole and make it so big, there’s no alternative to coming up with the money to fill it in.”
July 15, 2021
IBR’s error-filled “Tunnel Concept Assessment” disqualified a tunnel.
June 17, 2022
USCG suggests tunnel evaluation.
Feb. 8, 2023
USCG says IBR may not have a permittable alternative.
IBR continues to ignore tunnel alternative.
Link USCG
www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiza...
New Burnside Bridge construction delayed indefinitely due to federal uncertainty |
Price doubled, will IBR have same fate?
www.kgw.com/article/news...
"While the former model projected 21,600 daily light rail riders based on 2045 estimates using pre-pandemic ridership numbers, the STOPS model estimates 4,600 to 5,400 daily light rail riders based on fall 2024 ridership data, Schlupp told C-Tran board members."
clbn.us/rmg8j
IBR's wildly inflated ridership estimate reduced by Federal software model.
October 14, 2025 C-TRAN Regular Board Meeting
player.invintus.com?clientID=291...
IBR backpedaling extremely inflated light rail ridership estimate.
21,600 to 4,600 daily riders.
Mayor McEnerny-Ogle is using "the cost will rise" time-share sales pitch to sell IBR's dangerous bridge, that's too low for the Coast Guard.
Vancouver mayor warns costly delays if I-5 bridge construction doesn't start on time
katu.com/news/local/i...
IBR’s freeway expansion & bridge will:
Destroy 35 businesses and 43 homes, but build 1,270 parking spaces on 6 acres of downtown Vancouver!
Loom over Terminal 1 Public Market
Take an acre of Fort Vancouver
Demolish the Hurley Building
Have 80’ crazy high Transit Station
Go Safe Labs ranks the Glen Jackson I-205 the 8th most accident hot spot in the country. An S-curve with rain & ice make it treacherous.
katu.com/news/local/n...
IBR’s bridge will be more dangerous. Steeper at -4% with a tighter S-curve and an icy North-face, it will be deadly.
Vancouver should build a downtown for people, not cars.
IBR plans to build 1,270 parking spaces costing $116,000,000.
These 6 acres better used for 900 apartments.
IBR’s 1960’s freeway & parking not attractive to Federal funding.
