Crews assess Hood River-White Salmon Bridge after Thursday tractor-trailer crash

The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge was 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. Friday.

“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.

Engineers began assessing the damage to the nearly 100-year-old bridge within hours of the crash. Shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, 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.

If it is not replaced, the bridge will close to truck traffic in 2030 due to safety concerns — and close to all traffic in 2040. The replacement project is about 63 percent funded after a $200 million federal grant was announced earlier this year.

More than 4.3 million vehicles cross the bridge annually. The closest alternate crossings — Bridge of the Gods and The Dalles Bridge — are more than 20 miles in either direction.