Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Interstate Bridge shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Interstate Bridge offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Interstate Bridge at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Interstate Bridge? Wrong! If the Interstate Bridge is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Interstate Bridge then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Interstate Bridge? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Interstate Bridge and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Interstate Bridge wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Interstate Bridge then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Interstate Bridge site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Interstate Bridge, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Interstate Bridge, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox_Bridge|bridge_name=Interstate Bridge|image=InterstateBridge.jpg|carries=
Interstate 5|locale=[Portland, Oregon to
Vancouver, Washington, [Washington State Department of Transportation|id=01377, 07333|design=Dual
truss bridge with
lift bridge|mainspan= 531 ft (161.8 m)|length=3,538 ft (1078 m)|clearance= 15.5 ft (4.72 m)|below=72 ft (22 m) closed, 176 ft (54 m) open|traffic= 124,500|open=February 14,
1917 (Northbound),
1958 (Southbound)]s with a
lift bridge that carries
Interstate 5 traffic over the
Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington, and
Portland, Oregon, in the United States. First opened to traffic in 1917 with a second span opening in 1958, the bridge handles 124,500 vehicles (as of 2004). {{cite web | url = http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/docs/interstate_traffic_counts.pdf
| title = Average Daily Traffic on Oregon’s Interstate Highways 1954–2004
| publisher = [Oregon Department of Transportation
| date =
May 10[
| pages = 2
| format = [PDF
| accessdate = 2007-08-29
--> The green structure, which is over 3,500 ft (1000 m) long, carries traffic over three northbound lanes and three southbound lanes.
First bridge
The bridge was built to replace an overcrowded ferry system operated by Pacific Railway, Light & Power Co. Construction on the bridge began in March 1915, following the sale of bonds. The first bridge was opened on
February 14,
1917 at a cost of $1.75 million, which was shared between
Clark County, Washington and
Multnomah County, Oregon. Clark County paid $500,000 with Multnomah County paying $1,250,000.Horner, John B. (1919). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland. The first bridge has a total of 13 steel spans with three measuring 275 ft (84 m) in length while the remaining ten spans are 265 ft (80 m) long. One of the 275-ft spans is the lift span for allowing river traffic by the bridge. The original paved roadway was 38 ft (12 m) wide and had a 5-ft (1.5-m) wide sidewalk. At the time it was the only automobile bridge across the river between Washington and Oregon. It was originally a toll bridge costing $.05 per person.
Upgrades
In 1958 a $14.5 million upgrade created a southbound span and doubled the capacity of the bridge. The new bridge was built with a "humpback" that provides 72 ft (22 m) of vertical clearance and minimizes bridge openings. At the time the new bridge was opened, the old one closed to give it the matching humpback. When both bridges were opened in 1960, tolls were reinstated at $.20 for cars, $.40 for light trucks, and $.60 for heavy trucks and buses, before being permanently removed in 1966.
A $3 million upgrade to the lift cables, expansion joints, and a deck repaving was completed in 1990. The diesel generator used to power the lift was replaced in 1995 at a cost of $150,000. In 1999 the bridge was repainted at a cost of $17 million. A $10.8 million electrical upgrade was completed in mid-May of 2005.
The bridge is 3,538 ft (1,078 m) long with a main span of 531 ft (162 m). The vertical lift provides 176 ft (54 m) of clearance when opened. The lift takes 10 minutes to open and does so between 10 and 20 times per month. In 2001 the 6 lanes of the bridges carried 120,000 vehicles including 10,000 trucks, operating at capacity for four hours every day.
Replacement
Currently, many traffic engineers consider the bridge to be obsolete, both due to its age and its limited capacity. The bridge is frequently a bottleneck which impacts both traffic on the freeway, as well as on the river. The
Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Transportation state departments of transportation are jointly studying how to replace the bridge. The estimated cost for a replacement bridge is around $2 billion.
A replacement (especially a fixed span bridge) is complicated by a railroad drawbridge crossing the Columbia a short distance downriver, which constrains the location of the shipping channel; and by approach paths to Portland International Airport in Portland and to Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, which limit the height of any new structure. Some have proposed replacing the bridge in a different location. There are presently 12 transportation plans that are being studied to improve and expand the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River. In late 2006, 2-4 of these plans will be selected for a final proposal.
There is also a long standing debate as to whether or not a new bridge would include a MAX Light Rail line, express buses or bus rapid transit. During his 2007 "State of the City" address, Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard stated -->
References
External links
- WSDOT:Interstate Bridge
- Columbia River Crossing: Home page of ODOT/WSDOT project to replace the Interstate Bridge
{{Crossings navbox|structure = Crossings|place = [Columbia River|upstream signs = |downstream = [Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 9.6
{{Infobox_Bridge|bridge_name=Interstate Bridge|image=InterstateBridge.jpg|carries=
Interstate 5|locale=[Portland, Oregon to
Vancouver, Washington, [Washington State Department of Transportation|id=01377, 07333|design=Dual truss bridge with lift bridge|mainspan= 531 ft (161.8 m)|length=3,538 ft (1078 m)|clearance= 15.5 ft (4.72 m)|below=72 ft (22 m) closed, 176 ft (54 m) open|traffic= 124,500|open=February 14, 1917 (Northbound),
1958 (Southbound)]s with a lift bridge that carries Interstate 5 traffic over the
Columbia River between
Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, in the
United States. First opened to traffic in 1917 with a second span opening in 1958, the bridge handles 124,500 vehicles (as of 2004). {{cite web | url = http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/docs/interstate_traffic_counts.pdf
| title = Average Daily Traffic on Oregon’s Interstate Highways 1954–2004
| publisher = [Oregon Department of Transportation
| date = May 10[
| pages = 2
| format = [PDF
| accessdate = 2007-08-29
--> The green structure, which is over 3,500 ft (1000 m) long, carries traffic over three northbound lanes and three southbound lanes.
First bridge
The bridge was built to replace an overcrowded ferry system operated by Pacific Railway, Light & Power Co. Construction on the bridge began in March 1915, following the sale of bonds. The first bridge was opened on February 14,
1917 at a cost of $1.75 million, which was shared between
Clark County, Washington and Multnomah County, Oregon. Clark County paid $500,000 with Multnomah County paying $1,250,000.Horner, John B. (1919). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland. The first bridge has a total of 13 steel spans with three measuring 275 ft (84 m) in length while the remaining ten spans are 265 ft (80 m) long. One of the 275-ft spans is the lift span for allowing river traffic by the bridge. The original paved roadway was 38 ft (12 m) wide and had a 5-ft (1.5-m) wide sidewalk. At the time it was the only automobile bridge across the river between Washington and Oregon. It was originally a toll bridge costing $.05 per person.
Upgrades
In 1958 a $14.5 million upgrade created a southbound span and doubled the capacity of the bridge. The new bridge was built with a "humpback" that provides 72 ft (22 m) of vertical clearance and minimizes bridge openings. At the time the new bridge was opened, the old one closed to give it the matching humpback. When both bridges were opened in 1960, tolls were reinstated at $.20 for cars, $.40 for light trucks, and $.60 for heavy trucks and buses, before being permanently removed in 1966.
A $3 million upgrade to the lift cables, expansion joints, and a deck repaving was completed in 1990. The
diesel generator used to power the lift was replaced in 1995 at a cost of $150,000. In 1999 the bridge was repainted at a cost of $17 million. A $10.8 million electrical upgrade was completed in mid-May of 2005.
The bridge is 3,538 ft (1,078 m) long with a main span of 531 ft (162 m). The vertical lift provides 176 ft (54 m) of clearance when opened. The lift takes 10 minutes to open and does so between 10 and 20 times per month. In 2001 the 6 lanes of the bridges carried 120,000 vehicles including 10,000 trucks, operating at capacity for four hours every day.
Replacement
Currently, many traffic engineers consider the bridge to be obsolete, both due to its age and its limited capacity. The bridge is frequently a
bottleneck which impacts both traffic on the freeway, as well as on the river. The Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Transportation state departments of transportation are jointly studying how to replace the bridge. The estimated cost for a replacement bridge is around $2 billion.
A replacement (especially a fixed span bridge) is complicated by a railroad drawbridge crossing the Columbia a short distance downriver, which constrains the location of the shipping channel; and by approach paths to Portland International Airport in Portland and to
Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver, which limit the height of any new structure. Some have proposed replacing the bridge in a different location. There are presently 12 transportation plans that are being studied to improve and expand the Interstate 5 crossing of the Columbia River. In late 2006, 2-4 of these plans will be selected for a final proposal.
There is also a long standing debate as to whether or not a new bridge would include a
MAX Light Rail line, express buses or bus rapid transit. During his 2007 "State of the City" address, Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard stated -->
References
External links
- WSDOT:Interstate Bridge
- Columbia River Crossing: Home page of ODOT/WSDOT project to replace the Interstate Bridge
{{Crossings navbox|structure = Crossings|place = [Columbia River|upstream signs = |downstream = [Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 9.6
