The Seattle area is now listed as one of the leading super commuter cities in the nation, and Whidbey Island certainly contributes to the problem, which could be corrected with a route from Oak Harbor east to Interstate 5 at 300th NW.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen has said the Deception Pass Bridge should last easily until it is 80 years old, the same as the Steel Electric ferries that have been sold for scrap. There was an expensive study completed in 2001, called the North Whidbey Access Feasibility Study. It had four options, one being a ferry which can’t begin to carry the number of vehicles 24/7 that a bridge can. The entire Washington ferry system only carries about 11 million vehicles, while the Deception Pass Bridge can handle over 7 million a year. The problem is that it’s at the north end of the island, which is a long way to Seattle. Another problem is political, with the no growthers and the Navy that fears that an additional bridge might bring people with complaints about jet noise.

I have tried to discuss these points with Reps. Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith, but they won’t talk about the inadequate Deception Pass Bridge and just run from me and won’t return calls.

I would think they could work for a public vote for a bridge to I-5, yes or no, to get the heat off them. It’s the responsible thing. Look around the nation and the world; bridges don’t last forever.

Dave Crawford

Anacortes