The replacement of the Hood River-White Salmon bridge is accelerating, but a multimillion-dollar land dispute with Oregon State Parks threatens to drain local funds. Today, we cover the 3/9 & 3/23 HRWS Bridge Authority meetings, break down the creative cross-border strategies local leaders are using to fight back, the logistical nightmare of dismantling the old toll booths, and the ticking clock on federal funding.

In This Episode:

• The impending collision between the new bridge and existing toll booths
• Historic tribal agreements and federal red tape
• Washington D.C. lobbying efforts to unlock $8 million in stalled cash
• The October 2026 federal funding cliff

Resources & Links:

• Read the full written Dispatch at skamaniadispatch.com
• View meeting agendas, packets, and public comment forms at: https://hrwsba.gov/meetings
• Gorge Documenter notes on the HR Port Authority Meeting: https://www.documenters.org/assignments/regular-meeting-19442/report/
• Documenter notes on the 3/9 HRWSBA meeting: https://www.documenters.org/assignments/bi-monthly-meeting-19253/report/
• Thanks to Columbia Gorge Documenters for releasing their notes under CC by 4.0, powered by Uplift Local: https://upliftlocal.news/columbia-gorge/columbia-gorge-documenters/

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