You could try one of the narrow columnar junipers but they do not thrive here in the PNW climate. Fastigiate yew is a possibility but grows too slow to be very effective for screening purposes for several decades. 😪 It's not evergreen but columnar European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine', is my tree of choice for addressing this issue. I use it often in my designs. It grows fairly rapidly and you can purchase at a decent height as well, stays quite narrow and the upward growing branch structure is sufficiently dense to be able to provide a good visual screen even when out of leaf.

And, it is a Great Plant Pick, so highly recommended for PNW gardens.

Thank you soooo much @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) The hornbeam seems to be perfect solution!!

@sheila, this might be perfect for another spot along the same fence. It might be a bit shady. Do you know if clumping bamboo is shade tolerant?

Pretty much ANY bamboo is shade tolerant.....some more than others.

You might also look at Italian Cypress or Junior/Green Giant Thuja, depending on your size needs. I can't speak to how they would do in your climate, so more research would be required.

Italian Cypress are also not great in this climate. And Green Giant thujas are just a form of arborvitae, which the OP stated he did not want.

ah my mistake. sorry about that.