After the Columbia River Crossing's expert review panel tossed out the bridge design after years of planning work, there was the possibility that the bridge would be reworked with a more graceful look.

Of the three designs on the table, the bridge's design advisory group said, please don't go for the ugly one. Today, a report out from the Oregon and Washington transportation departments backs exactly that design, because it's the cheapest, most likely to stay on budget, and is the least risky. So to review:

Read their report (pdf) ... Is aesthetically beautiful design worth $60 million of a $400 million bridge?