Portland area

[zm1283]

This is totally off topic, but I'm honestly curious about why getting across the river to Washington is a chore. I see there are a couple of bridges. Is the traffic just awful or what? I've never been to Portland/Vancouver.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by zm1283

This is totally off topic, but I'm honestly curious about why getting across the river to Washington is a chore. I see there are a couple of bridges. Is the traffic just awful or what? I've never been to Portland/Vancouver.

Yes the traffic blows - especially at rush hour, which is when you're most likely trying to get to your games.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by zm1283

This is totally off topic, but I'm honestly curious about why getting across the river to Washington is a chore. I see there are a couple of bridges. Is the traffic just awful or what? I've never been to Portland/Vancouver.

Originally Posted by Smitty

Yes the traffic blows - especially at rush hour, which is when you're most likely trying to get to your games.

Correct. The I-5 bridge can be a nightmare during rush hour. People that use it have been trying for years to get a new bridge or an expanded bridge to be built. But those that don't use it don't see the need and fight it. Like most things, too many people follow the philosophy of "If it doesn't help me, it isn't needed."

The I-205 bridge is not one I know so much about but to get across town to it is worse than getting across the I-5 bridge. If you lived on the east side, it might be reasonable.

Road development in Oregon, in general, is just backwards.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Correct. The I-5 bridge can be a nightmare during rush hour.

Take the ferry. That's what we do here, in my little corner of Connecticut (since 1655).

[OrStBballRef]

Originally Posted by zm1283

This is totally off topic, but I'm honestly curious about why getting across the river to Washington is a chore. I see there are a couple of bridges. Is the traffic just awful or what? I've never been to Portland/Vancouver.

Cause the Portland metro area's traffic projections when they were designing all the bridges and freeways back in the 40/50/60s never assumed the metro population would explode as it did. The powers that be have never adjusted to that concept. But we do have plenty of money and time to devote to bicycle paths and mass transit (separate rant for separate time)

Luckily I've lived in Portland for my whole life and being an official in Portland for the past 13 years I have learned all the shortcuts, detours, backways to get around major trouble spots on my side of the river.