Bridge closures, planned and unplanned

HOOD RIVER — Overnight closures on the Hood River Bridge are scheduled this week for routine maintenance: Overnight through Sept. 24 with day-time traffic interruptions today, Sept. 23, and weekend overnight closures Sept. 29 to Oct. 12.

The most recent planned closure came Sept. 16 at 7:30 a.m. during the morning commute. This was for a lift span operation to accommodate the Tidewater tugboat “Defiance,” which was pushing a barge-mounted crane. Such closures are mandated by the US Coast Guard. The port had attempted to negotiate a different closing time with Tidewater, without success.

An unplanned closure came, ironically, during the Sept. 15 port commission meeting, when a truck hit the bridge guardrail. Bridge traffic closed in both lanes until the truck could be towed away that evening.

The new bridge will carry a third lane, dedicated for bikes and pedestrians, but also emergency vehicles.