The Oregon Department of Transportation will impose a lower load rating on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge effective March 3.  ODOT’s structural evaluation identified deficiencies in some components of the nearly 100 year old bridge that required the lower load rating.  The updated load rating will affect most classes of trucks.  It will range from 22 to 32 tons, depending on the type of vehicle.  The current maximum vehicle weight for the bridge is 40 tons.  The Port of Hood River’s bridge engineering firm, HDR, will begin a detailed analysis of ODOT’s structural evaluation to identify strengthening measures needed to restore the current weight limit, and the potential cost of such measures, but Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says that will take several months.  The Port says it has been in contact with local commodity haulers and shippers.