Press Release

Vancouver, Washington -- Within the next several months, state transportation officials are expected to decide whether to continue the study of long term alternatives for replacement of the Hood River bridge into a third phase. Agency staff and consultants working on the project recently met with state transportation department regional administrators in Oregon and Washington to present the results of the second phase of study, including alternatives recommended to be studied in a third phase.

If conducted, a third phase of study would include preparation of a draft environmental impact statement evaluating the impacts of remaining crossing alternatives. All three of the proposed remaining alternatives are located near the existing bridge. Alternatives in two other corridors, east and west of the existing bridge, were removed from further consideration. Short and medium term improvements to the existing bridge and adjacent facilities also have been identified as part of completion of the second tier of study.

The two Department of Transportation regional administrators agreed to confer with other key state transportation officials before deciding within the next several months whether to proceed with the study.

Additional information about the status of the project will be provided once the DOT regional administrators have made a decision.

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