The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge is a vital Columbia River crossing in the central Columbia Gorge bi-state region connecting Hood River, Oregon with the communities of White Salmon and Bingen in Washington State. The Bridge, nearly one mile long, is constructed of steel trusses on concrete pier supports with very narrow lanes (lanes are only 9 feet, 4.75 inches wide, with a 14 feet, 7 inches height restriction). The Bridge serves an average of 4 million users annually and is open every hour of every day, except during periods scheduled maintenance or emergency closures.
Often referred to simply as the Hood River Bridge, the aging structure is deficient by modern standards, but remains an essential transportation link between Oregon and Washington. The Bridge’s narrow lanes (9 feet, 4 inches) were characteristic of the 1924 era in which it was built, when horse-drawn carriages and Model-Ts crossed the Columbia on what was then a state-of-the-art structure.
The Hood River Interstate Bridge was essentially rebuilt in 1938 when the construction of the Bonneville Dam caused water levels to rise and made the addition of a lift span necessary. Nowadays, the lift span is raised several times a year and has become the iconic symbol of the historic Bridge purchased by the Port in 1950.
The Port takes its responsibility to assure the Bridge’s safety, operation and useful life into the foreseeable future extremely seriously, planning ahead and taking proactive action.
The Port of Hood River continues to work with state and federal agencies as a supportive partner in the effort and pursuit of bridge replacement. As years pass, the cost of bridge replacement, currently estimated at $520 million, continues to increase, meaning that funding for a new bridge will likely require pooled resources among local, regional and federal governments and agencies.
To learn more about the bridge replacement project, please visit the project website at hoodriverbridge.org.
BRIDGE INFORMATION:
NARROW LANES (9′ 4.75″)
- No wide loads.
- Large RVs are advised to cross at Cascade Locks or The Dalles.
- All large vehicles are advised to turn in mirrors.
- Special arrangements for wide load crossings can be made by calling (541) 386-1645 more than 24 hours in advance. Flaggers and pilot cars will be required.
WEIGHT RESTRICTED
- 25 tons for Type 3 vehicles
- 40 tons for Type 3S2 and Type 3-3
- 27 tons for the SU4
- 31 tons for the SU5,
- 34 tons for the SU6
- 38 tons for the SU7
- 29 tons for the EV3
HEIGHT RESTRICTED
- Max height: 14′ 7″.
CASH TOLL
Toll payment is accepted by cash, credit or debit card, or prepaid electronic account (BreezeBy) only.
- Class 1:
Passenger cars, vans, pickups: $3.50 - Class 2: 2 Axle Trucks: $8.00
- Motorcycles: $3.00
- Class 3 and up Vehicles: $4.00 per axle.
- All cash, credit or debit card paying customers must drive through the center Toll Plaza lanes.
ELECTRONIC TOLLING
- BreezeBy bypass lanes are for electronic tolling customers only.
- Create a new BreezeBy account here.
MARINE VESSELS
- Vessels requiring a bridge lift must call (541) 386-3500 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule the lift.
- Clearance varies with the level of the Bonneville pool.
- Max vertical clearance when lift span is closed: 57 feet (17.3 meters)
- Max vertical clearance when lift span is open: 148 feet (45 meters)
- Horizontal clearance of the lift span is 246 feet (75 meters)