Washington State Meets Funding Goal for New Hood River-White Salmon Bridge

Commissioners of the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority are applauding the Washington State Legislature for their $50 million commitment to building the new bridge. Washington's newly approved funding, which Governor Bob Ferguson signed into law today, will add $10 million in project funding to the '25-'27 biennium and $40 million in '27-'29, building on the $75 million the state approved in 2023 and bringing its total commitment to $125 million.

“We deeply appreciate the strong backing from lawmakers in Olympia, especially Senator Curtis King, whose long-standing commitment to this project has been instrumental,” said HRWSBA Co-Chair Jacob Anderson. “We’re also thankful for the leadership and advocacy of Senator Paul Harris, Representative David Stuebe, and Representative Kevin Waters, and statewide leaders on transportation policy like Senator Marko Liias, Representative Jake Fey, and Representative Andrew Barkis.”

“This funding shows that Washington is stepping up for this critical bi-state connection and the communities that rely on it,” continued Anderson. “With Oregon matching that commitment, both states can send a unified message to federal partners: this project is a priority, and we’re ready to deliver.”

With the Washington legislative session concluded, Authority commissioners and project supporters alike are also reiterating their appreciation to the Oregon Legislature for its previous commitment and urging legislators to follow through on additional funding this legislative session. 

Co-sponsored by Senator Daniel Bonham and Representative Jeff Helfrich, Oregon House Bill 2184 would allocate $105 million to the project, matching Washington's commitment. The bill has passed the Joint Committee on Transportation and awaits consideration in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

“We truly appreciate the great support from Senator Bonham and Representative Helfrich, and applaud the Transportation Committee for their support, especially committee co-chairs Representative Susan McLain and Senator Chris Gorsek,” said Mike Fox, HRWSBA co-chair. 

“Time is of the essence,” continued Fox. “Construction costs are rising and demands on our transportation system are growing. Our local communities and broader region rely on this crossing every day. The new Hood River-White Salmon Bridge will only get built on time and within budget with all partners contributing their share.”