A bi-state working group has been formed to collaboratively address issues and take necessary steps to keep the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate bridge replacement project moving forward as the required environmental studies progress toward expected completion in late 2021.  Port of Hood River Commissioner John Everitt says there is pent up demand to begin working as a region on very important issues that will need to be addressed when the environmental studies are done.  The six-member working group has already written joint letters of support for a federal Department of Transportation grant aimed at funding engineering and design work that will follow the engineering process.  The group also signed a joint letter stating their combined interest in jointly moving forward with the bridge replacement and have engaged a financing consultant to explore and evaluate potential governance and ownership structures for the future bridge.  The Preliminary Cost Estimate for a new bridge is about $300 million, but more engineering is required to determine more accurate costs.