Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline

  • As of spring 2024, the Bridge Authority has finalized a contract with a company to design and build the bridge. A new Bridge Aesthetics Committee was formed and is seeking public input on the look and feel of the bridge.


    The project was awarded a $200 million federal grant in January, but the project still needs additional grant funding to pay for the bridge. The project team is working hard to secure the necessary state funding.

  • The design-build team is currently evaluating existing conditions around the bridge and starting to move forward with the design identified during the federal planning process.

    The Bridge Aesthetics Committee will use public feedback to create an Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum that provides recommendations on the look and feel of the bridge and its furnishings. The bridge designer will consult this document while designing the bridge.

  • The current plan calls for construction to start in late 2025.

  • With the current timeline, the bridge will open in October 2029.

  • No. The current bridge will stay open to traffic while the new bridge is constructed beside it. The current bridge will be permanently closed only after the new bridge is operational and open to traffic.

Funding

  • The current projected cost is about $520 million.

  • You can find a cost breakdown here. This estimate does not include an additional $20 million for increased inflation in 2022-23.

  • As of spring 2024, the team has secured about $327 million from federal and state grants. That’s 63% of the estimated total cost.

  • The project team hopes to raise $50 million from Washington and $105 million from Oregon in the form of state grants. The team plans to pay for the remainder of the project with federal loans to be repaid with tolls.

  • Because it is not a state-owned bridge funded by gas taxes like other area bridges. All operations and maintenance costs are paid by bridge users.

  • Bridge owners have approached both Oregon and Washington in the past about taking ownership of this bridge, and they weren’t interested. We can’t speak to why they turned it down.

  • Yes. The Bridge Authority is planning to approach one of the states after the new bridge is built. The authority is designing the bridge to meet minimum Oregon and Washington design standards to allow one of the states to take ownership.

  • As of spring 2024, about $12 million has been spent on the bridge (about 2.5% of the total project cost). Most of this has been spent on planning. The rate of spending will significantly increase as the project moves into design and construction over the next few years.

Tolling

  • 100% of the 2023 increase is going into a separate account to be used solely for the new bridge. This money will go into a reserve fund and will be used to secure the federal loan that will pay for the portion of bridge costs not covered by grants.

  • As of spring 2024, the project has raised about $2 million from tolls.

  • Yes.

  • The Bridge Authority has not yet made that decision. The Authority is committed to ensuring the tolls stay as low as possible, and will set the new tolls based on the finances of the project when the bridge opens. The Authority will establish tolling policies for the bridge to ensure that revenue keeps up with maintenance and operations costs, as well as inflation, while also ensuring repayment of any debt. It is likely tolls on the bridge will need to increase from current rates.

  • We don’t know yet. It depends on the amount of grant money the project receives from the federal and state governments. If the project receives more grant money, it can take out a smaller loan to cover remaining costs. Because the project will need to repay this loan with toll revenue, more grant money now means lower future tolls, and less grant funding means higher tolls on the new bridge.

    Even if the project were to receive more grants than expected, and therefore didn’t need to take out a loan at all, tolls would still be necessary on the new bridge to cover ongoing operations and maintenance.

  • No. Because the bridge is partly funded by federal grants, the Bridge Authority will be governed by federal regulations that require it to use the toll revenue collected solely for the new bridge.

  • The Bridge Authority will need to determine a long-term financial strategy for the operations, maintenance and replacement of the bridge, as well as debt repayment. This strategy will determine future tolls, and the public will have a chance to provide feedback on this strategy as it is developed.

  • Tolls will be set in 2029 after financing is complete and another traffic and revenue study is conducted.

  • The authority is currently the sole decision-maker for setting toll rates on the new bridge. However, the Port of Hood River, as owner and operator of the current bridge, controls the toll rates and the revenue from tolls enacted prior to September 2023.

  • Not until the new bridge opens. However, after July 1, 2026, all revenue will go to maintaining the existing bridge or building the new bridge.

  • The bridge authority has not yet made a decision on this.

Bridge Location & Amenities

  • The new bridge will be located just west, or downstream, of the current bridge.

  • Yes.

Existing Bridge

  • It will remain open during construction of the new bridge. After the new bridge opens, the existing bridge will be demolished.

  • Due to its age and condition, the bridge is too expensive to maintain. In addition, it doesn’t meet current environmental standards and wouldn’t withstand an earthquake.