The Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks did receive $6 million in funding in the Oregon Legislature’s end-of-session omnibus bill location to support engineering studies focused on seismic resilience and bridge preservation to safeguard the nearly 100-year-old bridge.  With this funding, the Port of Cascade Locks will be able to procure engineering and other services such as site and soil assessments to analyze the bridge’s structural integrity to identify seismic vulnerabilities and inform targeted preservation efforts. Additionally, the studies will explore the feasibility of adding a pedestrian, bike, and equestrian lane separate from the flow of vehicle traffic to enhance safety for users, particularly those traversing the iconic Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.  The Port plans to seek matching funds in next year’s legislative session in Washington.  After narrowly missing out on funding during the 2023 session, the Port worked closely with leadership from the Joint Transportation Committee to present another funding request during the 2024 short session.