The Port of Hood River has hired former Port of Newport General Manager Kevin Greenwood as the director for the Hood River/White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project.  Greenwood started on the job last week, and will present his first project update to the Port Commission at their meeting Tuesday.  Greenwood takes on a new staff position at the Port of Hood River, with the responsibility to play a lead role in efforts to replace the aging Interstate Bridge.  The Oregon Department of Transportation recently committed five million dollars to the Port for bridge replacement planning efforts, primarily focused on the completion of the required Final Environmental Impact Statement which will require participation and collaboration from federal, state, regional and local authorities.  On January 18 a panel of experts will be brought together for a special work session of the Port Commission, exploring public-private partnership funding models, federal requirements for project permitting and funding, typical timelines and processes, as well as other aspects of the bridge replacement project.  That meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. in the Port’s Marina Center conference room.