Bridge replacement update: May – August 2018
BACKGROUND
During the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session, the Port of Hood River was successful in obtaining a $5-million appropriation to conduct final environmental impact studies related to the replacement of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge. The largest single contract to be funded by this grant is the environmental engineering contract to obtain a Record of Decision (ROD) through a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Once the ROD is obtained, the project has the federal environmental clearances necessary to proceed with permit applications and construction. The success of the Port’s legislative ask was in part due to the significant work over the last twenty years including the Bridge Replacement Feasibility, Draft EIS (DEIS) and Type, Size and Location (TS&L) Studies.
FEIS CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS
The process to procure the FEIS contract began early in 2018 when the Commission approved a contract with the SW Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to prepare and facilitate the evaluation of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for FEIS services. A bi-state evaluation committee (EISEC) scored and interviewed proposers. Though
very competitive, the EISEC scored WSP USA Inc. as the highest performing firm due largely to their past work on prior bridge studies. On June 5th, the Port Commission authorized management to enter into negotiations with WSP and over
$400,000 was pared off the original proposal before settling on a $3.1-million contract.
NEXT STEPS
A consultant kick-off meeting is scheduled for first week of August to begin the detailed work of engaging the public oversight committee, developing a public involvement plan, reviewing prior studies and producing updated information for the final report, completing 10% design and conducting a transportation analysis. The FEIS contract work is slated to be completed by January 2021.
BI-STATE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BRAC)
SW WASHINGTON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL (RTC) AGREES TO PARTICIPATE ON ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Matt Ransom, Executive Director of the SW Washington Regional Transportation, will represent the RTC as its representative on the Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee. The RTC has a long history with the bridge replacement project, as the conduit for federal funds originally obtained by Rep. Linda Smith and later by Rep. Doc Hastings. The funds helped pay for the Feasibility Study, the Draft Environmental Impact Study, and the subsequent Type, Size, and Location Study.
HISTORICAL & LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND
The Port of Hood River, a public agency, has owned and operated the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge since 1950. The 4,418’ steel truss bridge was originally constructed in 1924. It provides a critical, bi-state transportation link in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Bridge is over 30 years past its design life. Its sufficiency rating, a numeric representation of reliability and functionality, is 48.8, a strong indicator of functional obsolescence. It creates a hazardous traffic bottleneck during closures of I-84 in Oregon or SR-14 Washington, a frequent occurrence. It has 9’4” travel lanes, vastly undersized for today’s vehicles, and no pedestrian or bicycle facilities. The 80,000 lbs. weight limit restricts vehicle freight movement; and the narrow, poorly aligned navigation channel presents the greatest navigational hazard on the entire Columbia/Snake River federal inland waterway system.
Washington agencies and and federal partners have completed significant work on replacing the bridge:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) completed in 2003
Replacement Feasibility Study completed in 2004
Type, Size and Location Study completed in 2011
Formation of a Bi-State Committee Memo of Understanding in 2011
TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kevin Greenwood, Bridge Replacement Project Director Port of Hood River
1000 E. Port Marina Drive Hood River, OR 97031
Office: (541) 436-0797 Cell: (541) 961-9517 – Email: kgreenwood@portofhoodriver.com
Web: portofhoodriver.com | Twitter: @PortofHoodRiver | Facebook: Facebook.com/PortofHoodRiver