The Vancouver chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is preparing to announce that it supports a cable-stayed bridge design for the Columbia River Crossing Project over the deck truss design currently favored by the Governors of Oregon and Washington.
“We believe that a more thoughtfully considered and iconic bridge design such as the proposed cable-stayed design will have lasting positive impacts on Vancouver's business community and be far more favorable to both commercial development and quality of life in the region than the composite deck truss design,” said Roch Manley, past president and current member of AIA Vancouver.
Manley believes support for the deck truss design comes from a slight benefit in cost and expediency. However, he said the benefits of the cable-stayed design are optimal in the long term. Those benefits, according to AIA, include:
• Total cost is $40 million less than the original bridge design plan and just two percent more than the composite deck truss ($3.2 to $3.6 billion).
• The cable-stayed design is the most earthquake resistant of any of the bridge types considered.
• It is potentially less dangerous for navigation traffic on the Columbia due to fewer piers in the waters.
• The cable-stayed design can accommodate less intrusive interchanges both in Vancouver and on Hayden Island, leaving space for long-term economic development, not just short-term jobs.
• It can be designed as a graceful, complementary structure to the river, the City of Vancouver, the gateway to Portland and the surrounding landscape and view corridors.
“Given its history as a landmark and its importance as a gateway between the cities of Portland and Vancouver, I think deserves much more than just a flat design,” said Manley.
A component of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Vancouver is made up of design professionals from more than a dozen Washington state architectural firms.
