Bridge Aesthetics Committee
An advisory committee
Bridges are long-lasting, highly visible, and often important landmarks with strong character. In this spirit, the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Aesthetics Committee (BAC) will have the opportunity to generate ideas and concepts for new bridge aesthetic treatments (aka design features) that will be compiled in an Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum.
The bridge design team will use the memorandum as a guide as they make choices that will inform the appearance of the bridge, ensuring that the design expresses the region’s unique cultural identity and reflects the exceptional natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.
The committee’s role
Gather and articulate design ideas and concepts, relating to:
Materials, railings, traffic barriers, overlooks, lighting, furnishings (like benches), protective screening, and interpretive/wayfinding signs;
bridge colors, reviewed for harmony with the landscape setting;
experience for people crossing the bridge
views of the bridge
considerations of safety, durability, and cost.
Collect and provide information for community outreach on aesthetic considerations for the bridge.
Provide input on the locations for potential reuse of salvaged bridge parts at suitable locations on each side of the river.
This committee will produce the Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum, an essential document that will be used to inform the eventual decisions made by the bridge design team.
Committee Activity
The Bridge Aesthetics Committee is responsible for coming up with ideas for the look and feel of the bridge.
Over the course of summer 2024, the committee will use public feedback to draft an Aesthetics Guidance Memo, which bridge designers will consult as they design the bridge.
Committee members
The Bridge Aesthetics Committee is made up of representatives from various agencies with expertise in the transportation field or a connection to the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. The committee also includes six community members who represent diverse interests and lived experiences.
Washington community members
Kate Bertash
Christine Fisher
Josette Katcha
Oregon community members
Jay Chrisman
Paul (PJ) Portlock Jr.
Gary Young
Public agencies and area nonprofits serving on the committee
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority | Eric Wilson and Arthur Babitz, Commissioners
City of Bingen | Catherine Kiewit, Mayor
City of Hood River | Mark Frost, Planning Commission Chair
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Oregon Investment Board | Gil Kelley, Chair
Columbia Riverkeeper | Carlos Marroquin, Board Member
Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, Chairwoman
Federal Highway Administration | Tim Rogers, Oregon Division Bridge Engineer and Loren Wilson, Division Bridge Engineer
Friends of the Columbia Gorge | Rudy Salakory, Conservation Director
Oregon Department of Transportation | Terra Lingley, National Scenic Area Coordinator
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians | TBD
US Forest Service | Casey Gatz, Resources, Planning and Lands Staff Officer, and Chris Stillman, Landscape Architect
Washington State Parks & Recreation |Holly Williams, Parks Commissioner
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation | Chris Moore, Executive Director
Anticipated committee schedule
Below is an overview of expected committee activities over the next several months (click image to enlarge). The committee will meet at least four times over the spring, in conjunction with public open houses, with the goal of completing the final Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum by September.
This schedule is subject to change, and we will provide more information about the committee activities and meetings as it becomes available. There will be multiple opportunities for the general public to engage with this committee and provide feedback, so please check back for updates.
View this schedule in Spanish.
*PDB stands for Progressive Design Build, the team that will design and build the bridge.
Learn More
Learn more about the potential bridge design by visiting the About page. For more information about the committee, you can review the Aesthetics Committee Purpose and Scope.
Questions? Please email us at info@hoodriverbridge.org.