by Michael McElwee,
Port Executive Director
The Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge opened on December 9, 1924, when Calvin Coolidge was President. Within a year, 79,545 cars, 67 stage coaches and 3,920 livestock had crossed the river. In 1939 the lift span was installed due to construction of Bonneville Dam. World War II began that year in Europe.
Photo credit: Blaine Franger
The bridge is a visible reminder of a broad sweep of history from the beginning of the 20th century. It has connected Gorge communities and served a vital role in our regional economy for 93 years. But now it needs to be replaced to serve our region’s needs for the next 100 years.
The bridge is well past its design life. Its sufficiency rating, a numeric representation of reliability and functionality, is 48.8, a strong indicator of functional obsolescence. It is an extreme bottleneck during frequent highway closures. It has 9’4” travel lanes, vastly undersized for today’s vehicles, and no pedestrian or bicycle facilities. The 80,000-pound weight limit restricts freight movement. A sizable earthquake would likely cause catastrophic damage. The lift span opening represents the greatest navigational hazard on the entire Columbia/Snake River inland waterway system.
For these reasons, and more, the Port of Hood River Commission set course in 2015 to pursue bridge replacement. The prospects are daunting. $280-$300 million will be required to plan, design and construct a new bridge, at a time of limited public financing for infrastructure. Our region’s population density, traffic volumes and freight utilization rates are low compared to competing projects. Replacement is not a priority of either state transportation agency because of their significant and largely under-funded system responsibilities.
But there are also reasons for optimism. Early permitting steps are complete. The 2015 FAST Act provides new opportunities for federal funding and talk of a national infrastructure plan continues. The bridge is on the National Highway System (NHS) and transportation projects in the National Scenic Area are FAST Act-eligible. A recent cost/benefit analysis showed significant positive economic benefits—crucial when competing for project funding. And the Oregon Legislature is considering a significant transportation funding package in 2017.
The Port is seeking to build upon these advantages and opportunities. With sponsorship by Representative Mark Johnson and Senator Chuck Thomsen, two bills have been introduced in the 2017 Oregon Legislature. House Bill 2750 would provide clear statutory authority for the Port to pursue the development and construction of a replacement bridge under either public or private funding models. House Bill 2749 would fund completion of permitting and preliminary engineering work, increasing both the project’s eligibility for construction funding and the potential for a private equity partnership.
Without this legislation, the Port’s ability to take the next major steps towards bridge replacement would be greatly diminished. The Port would need to focus almost exclusively on keeping the existing bridge safe and operational for as long as possible. Capital funding demands for upgrades and repairs will increase. And prospects for either a reduced weight limit or sudden closure from earthquake or vessel strike will grow by the year.
Community support for bridge replacement efforts is crucial. For more information, visit portofhoodriver.com/bridge. Or, sign up and support the efforts of OneGorge (OneGorge.org), an informal public/private group that advocates for regional legislative priorities.
The time for a new bridge is now.
CANCELLED: 4:00 AM Bridge Closure November 9
UPDATE: THE CLOSURE PLANNED FOR 4:00AM NOVEMBER 9 HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
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Port crews will perform one maintenance lift of the Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge lift span at 4:00AM the morning of Wednesday, November 9, 2016. The lift will require closure of both lanes of the bridge for up to 40 minutes. Bridge users are advised to plan ahead for potential traffic delays.
For more information, call (541) 386-1645 or email porthr@gorge.net.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Train derailment/fire near Mosier, I-84 closed
ODOT is shutting down I-84 westbound in The Dalles, MP 87, and eastbound at Hood River at MP 64 due to train derailment/fire near Mosier.
Read MoreTRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Guardrail damage on Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge
Earlier today, significant damage to approximately 200 feet of the east side guardrail (north bound lane) of the Hood River Bridge caused traffic delays in both directions as crews responded. Port crews have completed their clean-up work and traffic flow has returned to normal.
Intermittent single lane closures are anticipated next week, when contractors will be on the bridge to replace the damaged section of guardrail. Dates, times, and duration of those closures are yet to be determined. The Port will issue notice before closures begin.
For more information, call the Port of Hood River at (541) 386-
1645 or email porthr@gorge.net.