SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study

Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) along with the Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation (ODOT & WSDOT), the ports of Hood River and Klickitat, and the local cities and counties are working in partnership to find a long-term solution to the Columbia River crossing between Hood River in Oregon and White Salmon and Bingen in Washington.

Using the findings from the SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Feasibility Study and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), completed in 2004, partner agencies will be completing a Bridge Type, Size, and Location Study (TSL) for a future new Columbia River Crossing between Bingen and White Salmon in Washington and Hood River in Oregon. During the TSL study process, engineers will collect and analyze data to develop several feasible bridge concepts. These concepts will then be evaluated against criteria developed from stakeholder input. The concept that best addresses stakeholder needs will be the recommended alternative.

In addition to the TSL Study, the current study effort will include artist renderings of the recommended alternative, an economic analysis of the Columbia River crossing, bridge cost estimates, and an outline for completion of the NEPA process.

Study Purpose

The primary purpose of this project is to improve the movement of goods and people across the Columbia River between the Bingen/White Salmon, Washington and Hood River, Oregon communities.

Background

The Columbia River Bridge, referred to locally as the Hood River Bridge, was built in 1924. The Bridge was vertically elevated and a lift span added in 1938 as the river water level was raised with the completion of the Bonneville Dam. The Port of Hood River purchased the bridge in 1950. The existing structure is 4,418 feet long and has two approximately 9.5-foot wide travel lanes with no pedestrian or bicycle facilities. It has open-grid steel decking, with a 246-foot lift span over the river navigation channel.

The Bridge spans the Columbia River, connecting the cities of White Salmon and Bingen in Washington to the city of Hood River in Oregon. This bridge is the second oldest Columbia River crossing and one of only three crossings in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This major transportation route serves as an important link to local communities, the region, and interstate travel. The economic well being of this region is dependent on this Columbia River crossing.

The SR-35 Columbia River Crossing effort began in response to local business and resident concerns about the condition of the existing Hood River Bridge. The project began in 1999. The SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Feasibility Study concluded in January 2004 with the completion of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS identified a new alignment just west of the existing Hood River Bridge as the preliminary preferred alternative. In addition, the feasibility study effort identified a number of short-term and medium-term bridge associated operational improvements. In the last few years, many of these improvements have already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.

Project Updates

April 2010: Bridge Type, Size, and Location Study Begins
June 2010: Conducted four Focus Group Meetings
July 2010: Bathymetry Survey Completed
August 2010: Traffic Analysis Memorandum
August 2010: Land Survey Completed
September 2010: Navigation Baseline Report Completed
October 2010: Economic Analysis Report Completed
November 2010: Geophysical Survey Completed
November 2010: Gorge Commission Bridge Aesthetic Listening Session
December 2010: Subsurface Exploration Completed
May 2011: Final Geotechnical Foundation Recommendations Technical Memorandum
June 2011: Hydraulic Modeling for Scour Analysis Completed
July 2011: Selected Recommended Bridge Type-Concrete Segmental Box Girder Bridge
August 2011: Completed Bridge Drawings and Design Refinements
September 2011: Artist Renderings Completed
September 2011: Cost Estimate Completed
September 2011: FEIS Scope of Work Completed
October 2011: Final Reports Completed
October 2011: Open House

Key Milestones

Milestone		Tentative Date(s)
Study Begins		April 2010
Economic Analysis		Fall 2010
Design Workshop		Winter 2010
Public Open House		Fall 2011
TSL Report		Fall 2011
Artist Renderings		Fall 2011
Cost Estimate		Fall 2011
FEIS Outline		Fall 2011

Meetings

• Design Workshop Notes - January 2011
• Public Open House Display Boards - October 2011

Documents

• SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study-TS&L Study Folio – October 2011
• SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study-TS&L Executive Summary – October 2011
• SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study-TS&L Final Report – October 2011
• SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study-TS&L Appendix – October 2011
• Final Geotechnical Foundation Recommendations – May 2011
• SR-35 Economic Analysis Folio – October 2010 (Summary of the Economic Analysis Report)
• SR-35 Economic Analysis Report – October 2010
• SR-35 Navigation Report Validation – September 2010
• SR-35 Traffic Analysis Memo – August 2010
• SR-35 Focus Group Summary – June 2010

Artist Renderings

Pedestrian View:

Shore View:

Headlines

Planning continues on new Columbia River bridge,
White Salmon Enterprise, 1 June 2010

Questions or Comments?

E-mail or phone:

Dale Robins
Regional Transportation Council
P.O. Box 1366
1300 Franklin Street
Vancouver WA 98666-1366

Tel: 360-397-6067 x5212
Fax: 360-397-6132