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Bridge authority seeks federal funding for Hood River–White Salmon replacement; local tolls and timeline discussed
Summary
The Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Authority reported on repeated federal grant submissions and a design/build selection; the existing structure was described as rated 6 out of 100 and the project estimate is roughly $1.12 billion with design and construction stretching into the early 2030s.
Eric Wilson, an architect and member of the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Authority, updated the council on efforts to replace the bridge, including repeated federal grant applications and a recent re-submission for a major grant in June for the 2026 cycle. "Key points - our bridge is rated 6 out of 100," Wilson said, underscoring the structure's poor condition and the project's urgency. He said the authority has asked for "just over ½ billion $" in federal funds and reported successful fundraising and earlier program staff funding from state legislatures.
Wilson described the project overview: a design/build contractor (Kewitt Infrastructure West) has been selected; the design phase is expected to take about 18 months and construction cannot proceed at all times due to seasonal in-water work windows. The draft design includes steel fabrication to allow offsite work, approximately 11–12 piers, two traffic lanes plus partial breakdown lanes and an 18–16 ft pedestrian/bike way; the estimated total project cost stated in the briefing was about $1.12 billion. Wilson said a portion of adjusted toll revenue is being held by the bridge authority and the authority plans to borrow under a federal loan program with a target of 20% down payment.
