Green Light: Federal Approval Marks a Major Milestone Toward a New HR-WS Bridge
From the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement:
By Roy Kaufmann
Hood River, Ore.,/ White Salmon Wash., Nov. 18, 2025 — The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority today announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has formally issued its Record of Decision (ROD), marking a major milestone in the effort to replace the century-old Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge.
“This is a pivotal moment for our region,” said Mike Fox, co-chair of the Bridge Authority. “The Record of Decision affirms years of environmental review, public engagement, tribal partnership and bi-state collaboration. It allows us to move forward with confidence toward a safer, more resilient, and more accessible crossing.”
The Record of Decision is the federal approval that formally closes out the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, documents the selected bridge alternative, and confirms that anticipated environmental impacts, mitigation commitments, and public and tribal input have been fully reviewed under federal law. It enables the project to move into final design, permitting, right-of-way actions, and construction procurement, while recording required environmental, cultural, and tribal mitigation commitments. By achieving this milestone, federal funding can be obligated to the project.
The new bridge will replace the aging steel truss structure that has served the Columbia River Gorge for more than 100 years. Designed to modern seismic and safety standards, the new bridge will be a fixed span, featuring wider lanes, a separated bike / pedestrian path, and improved navigational passage for river traffic. It will also include state-of-the-art stormwater management systems to protect Columbia River ecosystems and minimize environmental impacts.
“This bridge is our lifeline across the Columbia River,” said Bridge Authority Co-Chair Jacob Anderson. “The need for replacement is urgent, and the Record of Decision is the green light that lets us take the next step toward a safer, more reliable crossing.
With the Record of Decision secured, the project team—led by HNTB and Kiewit Infrastructure West—will continue working toward final design and securing permits and approvals. Once full funding is secured, construction is expected to take approximately four years, with the new bridge slated to open in 2031.
The $1.12 billion project is supported by a mix of federal, state, and local funding, including:
A $200 million federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant
$125 million commitments each from Oregon and Washington states
A $105 million toll-backed loan
A pending $532 million request to the federal Bridge Investment Program
The Final EIS and Record of Decision and supporting documents can be found on the project website.
For more information, visit hoodriverbridge.org.
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