A rendering of the new bridge in relation to the current bridge. The roadway surface of the new bridge will at about the top of the arch of the existing bridge’s lift span, said Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority Project Manager Michael Shannon. “It’s about 40-feet higher than it is today,” he said.
A rendering of the new bridge in relation to the current bridge. The roadway surface of the new bridge will at about the top of the arch of the existing bridge’s lift span, said Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority Project Manager Michael Shannon. “It’s about 40-feet higher than it is today,” he said.
HOOD RIVER — Hood River City Council began its Feb. 9 meeting with the National Anthem, sung by Amy Maddy. The council then followed with the Pledge of Allegiance and land acknowledgement before continuing, as per usual.
Amy Maddy sings the National Anthem at the start of the Feb. 9 city council meeting as Dick and Bonnie Withers look on.
Trisha Walker photo
Bonnie Withers, with Friends of the Library, gave an overview of this year’s Hood River County Reads program, now in its 20th year. This year’s book is the memoire “On Gold Hill: A Personal History of Wheat, Farming, and Family, from Punjab to California” by Jaclyn Moyer. More than 600 books will be distributed countywide; free copies can be picked up at the library, along with a schedule of events.
The council unanimously supported a proclamation that established February and March “Hood River County Reads.” Hood River County Commissioners passed a similar proclamation on Jan. 20; Cascade Locks City Council declined to support the program at their Jan. 12 meeting.
Bridge update
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority Project Manager Michael Shannon followed with a presentation on the current bridge’s deficiencies and the proposed new bridge’s safety and economic benefits. Of note, it will have wider lanes, new shoulders, and bike and pedestrian access. The pedestrian path could also be used as an emergency bypass lane to keep traffic flowing in the event of an accident.
“There will be two overlooks on the bridge looking downriver,” he said. “… We’re hoping families will go out and get to see the river and the scenic area in a different perspective than maybe they’ve gotten to in the past.”
This month, the bridge authority is doing additional Geotech borings to identify specific locations where the drill shafts will be. In July, the 60% design will be completed — meaning the design is roughly 60% finalized — and with that comes another estimate.
As of now, the project is a little over half funded, with two grants pending. “We’re hoping we’ll see this funding come through,” he said.
“We don’t anticipate or see any major changes [to the estimate],” Shannon said. “We’ve been tracking national trends on key commodities — not seeing any major increases … everybody asks about the tariffs, and we really have not seen any major impacts on that yet.”
The design will be complete by 2027, and, if funding comes through, construction will begin in October of that year. Construction should take four years — opening to traffic in 2031 — with another two dedicated to dismantling the current bridge.
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