The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge is closed to all traffic after a crash involving a tractor-trailer caused severe damage shortly before noon Thursday, according to the Port of Hood River. An American Cruise Line vessel was able to pass safely under the bridge about 8 a.m. this morning.
“For safety reasons and to allow engineers to thoroughly assess the damage, the bridge will be closed until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we prioritize safety and work towards a resolution. Please seek alternative routes and stay tuned for updates. Thank you for your cooperation,” the port posted on its Facebook page. No injuries were reported. A meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon to discuss vehicular traffic.
Engineers began assessing the damage to the nearly 100-year-old bridge within hours of the crash. Shortly after 6 p.m. the port said the engineering team needed more time to assess the damage and the bridge connecting state Highway 14 in Washington to Highway 30 and Interstate 84 in Oregon would remain closed until further notice.
About 70 miles east of Vancouver in the Columbia River Gorge, the seismically deficient bridge has had a 15 mph speed limit for years. A project will replace the narrow span with a concrete two-lane, fixed-span bridge with an attached bike and pedestrian path running side-by-side with traffic, which the current bridge lacks.
