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.

Download a committee factsheet here [PDF]

Committee Activity

Click the links below to view more information about each meeting.

The Bridge Aesthetics Committee was responsible for coming up with ideas for the look and feel of the bridge which were confirmed and refined by the public during two open houses. These ideas were drafted into recommendations in the form of an Aesthetics Guidance Memorandum.

The final Bridge Aesthetics Memorandum is now available. You can read the full Appendices of the Memo here.

Or read a summary of the recommendations for the look and feel of the new bridge.

With this Memo the bridge design team will consult it as they develop an Aesthetics Design Package, which describes in detail what the bridge will look like.

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.