• Bridge
  • Development
  • Airport
  • Marina
  • Recreation
  • Home
  • Current Weather: 63°  Wind: WNW at 11mph
  • 0 items - $0.00

Port of Hood RiverPort of
Hood River

  • TOLLS
    • BREEZEBY
    • PAY TOLL
  • PARKING
    • Waterfront Parking Info
    • Purchase Seasonal Parking Lot Passes
    • Pay Parking Complaint
    • Dispute Parking Complaint
  • About The Port
    • History of the Port
    • Port Commission
    • Staff Listing
    • Meeting Notices & Minutes
      • Live Stream
    • In the Media
      • Newsletter Archives
    • Strategic Business Plan
    • Governance and Policies
      • Governance Policy
      • Ordinance 23-2018
      • Ordinance 27
      • Non Smoking Facilities & Grounds
      • Real Estate Transaction Policy
    • Budget & Finance
    • Committees
      • Budget Committee
      • Marina Committee
      • Airport Advisory
      • Waterfront Recreation Advisory
    • Live Cam Viewer
    • Employment & Volunteer Opportunities
    • More Info
      • What Is A Port District?
  • Projects
    • RFP Bid Center
      • Miscellaneous Truss Repairs
      • Underwater Pier Repairs
      • E. Anchor Way, N. 1st Street A&E
      • Market Analysis for Lower Mill Redevelopment Site Parcels
      • Request for Proposals – Janitorial Maintenance
      • Airport Trenching Project
      • North Apron RDFI
    • Lot 1 Development
    • Bridge Replacement Project
    • Request for Developer Interest, Lot #900
  • Properties
    • Port Properties For Sale
    • Properties for Lease
    • Submit a Maintenance Request
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Listing
    • Public Information Requests (FOIA)
Home :: Hood River Bridge :: History of the Hood River Bridge

History of the Hood River Bridge

The mile-long Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge crosses the Columbia River at approximately river mile 169.8 on the Bonneville Pool. The Bridge was built by the Oregon-Washington Bridge Company and opened on December 9, 1924.

Click on a time period below to read more about the history of this important interstate connection.

History

1924

The Bridge was built by the Oregon-Washington Bridge Company and opened to traffic on December 9, 1924.

Photo credit: HistoricHoodRiver.com. Leslie Bulter driving the Last Spike. 1924
Photo credit: HistoricHoodRiver.com. Leslie Bulter driving the Last Spike. 1924

1924 Toll Rates: 

  • Persons over 7 years of age: 10 cents
  • Livestock: One animal, driven, led or ridden, + one person: 20 cents
  • Drove of animals (10 head or under)+one person: 10 cents each; 4 cents each additional
  • Animal drawn vehicle, 1-2 animals: 75 cents; 3 animals: $1.00; 4-6 animals: $1.50 (50 cents per animal over that)
  • Vehicle in tow: 50 cents
  • Bicycle: 20 cents; Motorcycle: 50 cents; Trailer: 50 cents
  • Auto: 75 cents
  • Truck < 1 ton: 75 cents; Truck between 1-2 ton: $1.50; Truck 2-4 ton: $2.00
  • Truck > 4 ton: $5.00; Tractor: $5.00
1937

The Secretary of War notified The Oregon-Washington Bridge Company that the fixed channel span required conversion to a lift span to accommodate the completion of the Bonneville Dam and subsequent raised water level.

1938

Bonneville Dam was completed and the Bridge was virtually rebuilt at this time. The seven 208′ deck spans on the Oregon side and the two 208′ deck spans on the Washington side were raised to their present elevation by raising the tops of the piers. The lift span and lift towers were added. Three additional spans were added on the south side and two shore spans were constructed to permit lowering the road grade as it approached the Oregon shore. Six deck spans were added on the north side as well as a tollbooth.

Photo credit: HistoricHoodRiver.com. The old lift span, viewed from the water.
Photo credit: HistoricHoodRiver.com. The old lift span, viewed from the water.
1949

The Oregon Legislature enacted a law permitting the acquisition or construction of interstate toll bridges by certain municipalities, including ports, which was upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court in June of 1950.

1950

The Port of Hood River acquired the Bridge under that act on December 12, 1950, at 12:00 noon, from the Oregon-Washington Bridge Company for the purchase price of $800,000. Each state, port, city and county were asked to purchase and maintain the Bridge; all declined but the Port of Hood River. The Port Commissioners were Les Sherwood, J.H. Travis, H.M. Saling, Ross Collie, and Luke Nichols.

1951

During this year, $725,000 was expended to modify and improve the Bridge into top condition, including the relocation of the tollbooth to the south (Oregon) side. Steel beams with steel grate decking replaced the wood decking system. The railing system was reconstructed following the general design and many of the posts, rails, and curbs were reused in the new railing system.

1951 Toll Rates

  • Auto: 50 cents
  • Truck: 50 cents per axle
1952 - 1964

The maintenance program followed from 1952 to 1964 was adequate to replace all damaged materials and maintain the Bridge in good condition. Wood railings and curbs were replaced as required. The El Paso Natural Gas Company installed a gas line across the Bridge.

1965 - 1967

During these years the railing and curbs were replaced by steel posts, flex-beam guardrails and steel curbing. Mercury vapor lights on light standards were installed at each pier and the center of the lift span. The tollbooth was replaced with a sheet metal building and toll recorder equipment was installed. The portal bracing at the lift span towers was revised to provide adequate clearance for trucks. United Telephone Company placed a cable across the Bridge.

1968 - 1972

A Bridge painting project was completed during this period. River navigation and aerial obstruction lights were transferred from time clock operation to photocell. The Washington approach road was modified and widened to allow easier turning from Highway 14.

1973 - 1979

Inspection of all electrical equipment was made by Ace Electric. A total renovation project began in 1976. Ten spans were welded; new power and control cable supports were added; a marine radio was installed; mechanical traffic axle counters were established in 1978; and additional improvements to the concrete supports and to the communication systems were made.

1980s

A new mechanical maintenance manual was prepared. Pier cap repairs were completed. United Telephone Service placed its cable underwater between the lift span towers. Deck grating and repainting projects were completed.

1990 - 1999

A major Bridge engineering study was completed and recommendations were made for projects to extend the useful life of the Bridge with a 1994-estimated cost of $12-14 million. In 1994, the toll was increased by 25¢ to 75¢ per single-axle vehicle, and discount books were offered to frequent users. The increased revenue was dedicated to the Port’s  Bridge Repair and Replacement Fund, to be used solely for Bridge maintenance, repair and upgrades. A Phase One Seismic Retrofit was completed in 1996 to strengthen the Bridge, at a cost of $350,000. In 1997, the Washington approach was widened at a cost of $1.6 million. In 1998 the estimated cost of replacing the Bridge was $175,000,000. The $2.1 million lift span upgrade project began in 1999.

1994 Toll Rates:

  • Toll Increase Placed in the Designated Bridge Repair and Replacement Fund
  • Auto: 75 cents
  • Truck: 75 cents per axle
  • Motorcycle: 50 cents
  • NO BICYCLES/PEDESTRIANS/ANIMALS ALLOWED
  • Discount books created for frequent commuters
  • 80 tickets for $50 – discounted price
  • 20 ticket-book available for $15 – regular non-discounted price
2000 - 2009

The mechanical and lift span improvement project was completed in 2000. In 2001, the $8 million redecking and renovation began with the 2002 utility relocation project. The actual redecking began in January 2004 and was completed in 2005. The $4 million Toll Plaza Improvement project began in 2006, establishing the first electronic tolling system in Oregon. The new BreezeBy electronic toll collection (ETC) system utilizes prepaid funds and transponders with that fit onto vehicles to facilitate faster commutes across the Bridge.

2007 BreezeBy Electronic Tolling: Customers received a 20% discount for using transponders.

2010 - 2016

In 2011, a 30-year operations plan was developed for the Bridge outlining prospective project costs for improvements and maintenance to maintain the Bridge’s safety and useful life. On January 1, 2012, the Bridge toll was raised to $1 for single-axle vehicles, with discounted crossings for BreezeBy customers. The $2.75 million Lower Chord Rehabilitation project was completed in 2012 evaluating, cleaning and painting critical connections, as were repairs to the lift span. In February of 2012, a bi-state SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study was completed, estimating the cost of a new bridge at around $290 million, with no funding sources identified. The study determined that tolls from projected traffic patterns could provide 30% of funds needed for a replacement bridge. Metal deck welding occurred from 2013-2015 to repair the steel decking on the Bridge. In 2015, the Port began a major upgrade to the Bridge’s electronic toll collection (ETC) system that will allow real-time accounting processes as well as access to a customer web portal for BreezeBy customers. The project’s completion is anticipated in 2016.

Port photo. Port crews inspect the lift span during a lift 2015.
Port photo. Port crews inspect the lift span during a lift 2015.

The Hood River Interstate Bridge continues to be a major source of revenue for the Port, however, the aging structure has undergone a long, expensive list of capital improvement projects over the past couple decades and will continue to require dedicated funds for improvements and maintenance to keep the structure sound over the next 20 to 30 years.

 

  • Hood River Bridge
  • TOLL RATES
  • BREEZEBY
    • About BreezeBy Electronic Tolling
  • Traffic Alerts & Announcements
  • Bridge Replacement Project Updates
  • Bridge Replacement Project General Info
  • History of the Hood River Bridge
  • Planned Capital Upgrades
  • Hood River Bridge Quick Facts & FAQS
  • Studies & Reports

Live Weather Cameras

  • ODOT I-84 Exits 63 & 64
  • WSDOT SR14 at Hood River Bridge

Stay Up To Date On Port News And Alerts

Hood River, OR
59°
overcast clouds
77°
Sat
85°
Sun
88°
Mon
80°
Tue
75°
Wed
extended forecast
Weather from OpenWeatherMap

Hood River Live Cam

GorgeLive Camera
Port of Hood River
1000 E. Port Marina Drive,
Hood River,  OR  97031
Phone: (541) 386-1645
  • Hood River Bridge
  • TOLL RATES
  • BREEZEBY
    • About BreezeBy Electronic Tolling
  • Traffic Alerts & Announcements
  • Bridge Replacement Project Updates
  • Bridge Replacement Project General Info
  • History of the Hood River Bridge
  • Planned Capital Upgrades
  • Hood River Bridge Quick Facts & FAQS
  • Studies & Reports
  • Airport
  • Noise & Airport Operations
  • Announcements
  • About T-Hangar Spaces
  • Apply to T-Hangar Wait List
  • Airport Advisory Committee
  • Airport & Marina Live Cam Viewer
  • Master Plan
  • Ordinance 23-2018
  • Minimum Standards
  • Alternative Grass Landing Procedures
  • History of the Airport
  • Marina
  • Announcements
  • Moorage Information & Wait Lists
  • Apply to be on a Marina Wait List
  • Guest Dock / Fueling Information
  • Hood River Yacht Club Learn to Sail Programs
  • Gorge Junior Sailing
  • Cruise Ship Docking
  • Marina Committee
  • Marina & Airport Live Cam Viewer
  • Marina Park Picnic Shelter
  • USGS Water & Wind Data at Hood River Marina
  • Live Marine Traffic Map
  • Master Plan
  • Waterfront Access Zone Map
  • General Info
  • History of the Marina
  • Waterfront Recreation
  • 2023 Waterfront Parking Information
    • Pay Parking Complaint
    • Dispute Parking Complaint
    • Purchase Event Site Parking Passes
  • Announcements
  • Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, SUP & Kayaking Information
  • Hood River Waterfront Safety Zones Map
  • Check Water Quality with Swim Guide
  • Lost & Found
  • Marina Park Picnic Shelter
  • Events on Port Properties
  • Vendor & Concession Info
  • USGS Water & Wind Data at Hood River Marina
  • Live Marine Traffic Map
  • History of the Waterfront
  • Waterfront Recreation Advisory Committee
  • Industrial Development
  • Lot 1 Development
  • Lower Mill Site Redevelopment
  • Port Real Estate Transaction Policy
  • History of the Port’s Role in Development
  • Contact The Port
  • Site Map
  • About the Photography
  • Privacy Policy
  • Social Media Terms of Use, Prohibited Content and Disclaimer
  • Public Information Requests (FOIA)
  • Legal Statement

Copyright © 2023 · Port of Hood River