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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2021)
Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com Wednesday,June2,2021 11 Port mulls Hood River bridge plans Oberst ■ By For Gail Columbia Gorge News work will be completed this fall. Another $10 million is coming from the Washington State Legislature and federal Port of Hood River’s transportation BUILD funds. Board of Commissioners The Port of Hood River has June 1 considered renewing also committed $1.25 million a three-year contract with Kevin Greenwood, the Hood to the project. Greenwood is a limit- River-White Salmon bridge replacement project director ed-duration full-time port since 2018 (results unavail- employee whose salary is funded by grants. able by press time). Costs for the bridge not Commissioners May 18 covered by outside funds will considered a recommenda- be repaid by bonds insured tion to extend Greenwood’s against tolls on the bridge. contract. Greenwood’s pre- Environmental impact liminary work during the first studies, community input, three years of his contract tests and engineering reports has been excellent, said the commissioners. “I have great will wrap up this fall, shoring up more solid requests confidence in Kevin. He’s for other outside funding. excellent at what he’s done,” Greenwood for the past three said Commissioner Kristi years has coordinated that Chapman. work by consultants and In his update on bridge staff from the port, Oregon funding, Greenwood listed and Washington states’ more than $230 million in departments of transporta- potential outside bridge funding from a patchwork tion, the Federal Highway of sources including federal Administration, Klickitat transportation FAST Act County and other agencies. reauthorization and Build Chapman was upbeat Back Better proposals, as well about the port’s partnership as funding from Olympia and with cities and other entities Salem — Washington State in Washington State as part- has set aside $140 million for ners in the Bi-State Working its share of the bridge, but Group. The group will play a its allocation depends on major role in bridge manage- increases in revenues. ment in the future, according “We continue to lobby for to port staff. A report to the additional planning resourc- Bi-State Working Group es while preparing for a large on how to keep those tolls low is online at youtu.be/ transportation package for NlROIC2z2fE. construction,” Greenwood said. Estimates to remove and Bridge update replace the century-old bridge are at $400 million. What’s happening next Environmental impact with the Hood River-White studies began three years Salmon Bridge replacement? ago with a $5 million Oregon In his report in May, transportation grant for Greenwood detailed plans to planning and environmental the Port of Hood River Board testing, of which $600,000 of Commissioners, much of remains. The environmental which, including formation of The lift span of the Hood River bridge is lit by a beam of sun Thursday, May 27. Plans for replacement of the bridge continue. Mark B. Gibson photo the Bi-State Bridge Compact, are already underway. The Compact brings together leaders from groups on both sides of the bridge impacted by the replacement. According to Greenwood’s report, Phase 2, estimated to cost $16.25 million from 2021 to 2023, lays the groundwork for the project’s development and governance. Phase 3, the pre-construction phase, is tentatively set for 2023 through 2026. Phase 4 is the construction phase, tenta- tively set to begin in 2026. Details in the report are: Phase 2 (2021-23) ■ Establish the Bi-State Authority ■ Complete 30 percent of the estimated engineering ■ Complete traffic and toll revenue study ■ Establish a preliminary contracts financial plan ■ Complete study and ■ Evaluate public and pri- vate partnerships and project establish new toll structure ■ Acquire rights of way delivery Phase 4 (2026) Phase 3 (2023-26) ■ Construction begins. ■ Complete 60 percent of the estimated engineering and designs ■ Evaluate governance options ■ Complete grant and loan applications ■ Award pre-construction Marine Park Trail input sought The Port of Cascade Locks and Oregon Department of Transportation are planning for a future bike and pedes- trian path network within Marine Park that will be accessible for everyone. A survey is now avail- able on the project website through June 11 to gather community input on values and uses for Marine Park at www.oregon.gov/odot/proj- ects/pages/project-details. aspx?project=14710. Port Commission President Jess Groves said, “This is a great opportunity to plan for the future of Marine Annie Jr., a children's play based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie, will be performed at The Park and I am excited to hear Dalles Civic Auditorium beginning June 18. Contributed photo the community’s thoughts on this project.” Annie Jr. staged at Civic Performances in The Dalles June 18-19, 25 and 27 31 children from the commu- nities of Dallesport, Dufur, Mosier and The Dalles have been memorizing lines, mu- sic and choreography since April 1. The Dalles Civic So what is the message of Auditorium Children’s this musical? Life is difficult, Theater will present the but “the sun will come out children’s play “Annie Jr.” at The Dalles Civic Auditorium tomorrow” to an improved life for those who remain June 18-19 and June 25 at 7 p.m., and June 27 as a 2 p.m. optimistic. "This moral we are remind- matinee. "Annie Jr." is a Broadway ed of everyday, but often life’s musical based upon the occurrences, like COVID-19, newspaper comic strip “Little make it exceedingly difficult Orphan Annie” of the 1920s. to be hopeful," said a press Under the direction of release. "This is why 'Annie Gail Farris, Nancy Moon and Jr.' is a timeless musical for numerous other volunteers, all ages." "Annie Jr." is presented through special arrangement and all authorized materi- als are supplied by Music Theatre International, New York, N.Y. Tickets are available at Klindt’s Booksellers in The Dalles, online at TheDallesCivic.org, and at the door. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12. "Dallesport Elementary, under the direction of Farris and Moon, presented 'Annie Jr.' about 10 years ago, and it was a smash hit," said a press release. "(This is) a wonderful musical for the whole family." Breathe Healthier Live Better ' What s your reason to quit smoking ? TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM A TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST IS READY TO HELP! ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: HR 541-386-6380 ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH: TD 541-296-4610 MCMC: 541-506-5819 identified, but the Port of Cascade Locks is developing a funding strategy. More information will be shared online as the project continues. This project expands on a previous project that ex- amined a new entrance into Marine Park from WaNaPa Graphic courtesy of ODOT Street that would allow peo- ple walking, biking or using This planning-level project mobility devices to safely should be completed by early cross the railroad tracks and 2022 and includes under- enter the park. For more information standing the construction costs, environmental and cul- on that completed project, tural implications of building visit portofcascadelocks.org/ the trail, and understand any marine-park-entrance. other risks tied to construc- tion. Funding for the trail construction has not been SDS Lumber Co. is HIRING! 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