The Port of Hood River Commission has given the go-ahead for making an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FASTLANE program for funding for preliminary planning for a replacement of the Hood River/White Salmon Interstate Bridge. Port Communications and Special Projects Director Genevieve Scholl says they will be submitting to the small grants program, which has a minimum ask amount of five million dollars and a 40 percent match requirement. The Port will provide the matching funds through bridge toll revenues. The deadline to make the application is December 15, but when the Port would get an answer is unknown. Scholl says they hope to learn if the application is successful by the end of the current fiscal year.