State lawmakers react to bridge funding

THE GORGE — Oregon State Rep. Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) and Washington State Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima) commented on both states successfully funding their respective portions of the Hood River-White Salmon bridge project. In all, they have secured over a quarter of a billion dollars for the replacement of the century-old bridge connecting the two states, and the greater Gorge Region.

“Just before Washington’s legislative session finished in late April, our Legislature passed a new two-year transportation budget that includes significant funding for the Hood River Bridge project,” said King, ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee. “Now, Oregon’s Legislature, thanks to the leadership and persistence of Representative Helfrich, has approved a matching amount of funding for this much-needed bridge project. The combined funding between our two states puts us in a stronger position when we approach the federal government for additional dollars to help pay for the bridge project.”