A Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council map shows the possible locations of a future bridge to cross the Columbia River in the Wenatchee Valley, alongside the Odabashian and Sellar bridges.

A Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council map shows the possible locations of a future bridge to cross the Columbia River in the Wenatchee Valley, alongside the Odabashian and Sellar bridges.

 CDTC

WENATCHEE — If a third bridge is built here in the Wenatchee Valley to cross the Columbia, planners say it won’t be cheap.

The Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council released a study March 8 looking at four potential locations for a new bridge, from the Malaga-Rock Island area in the south all the way to the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee downtown sector at the north. Cost estimates for the different alternatives range anywhere from $156 million to $326 million given current prices and labor.

The alternatives:

  • Downtown Connection: Local and short-distance trips between the downtown cores of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. Estimatet: $156 million to $272 million.
  • Sellar Bridge Expansion: An additional parallel span providing additional capacity for the state-route bridge. Estimate: $182 million to $318 million.
  • Mid-Valley Crossing: Connect key roads in Malaga and East Wenatchee and allow additional access to Pangborn Airport. Estimate: $186 million to $326 million.
  • Malaga Industrial Area Crossing: Local and short-distance trips between Rock Island and Malaga, providing another evacuation route for Malaga residents in case of wildfire. Estimate cost: $186 million to $326 million.

Transportation planners and community groups like Our Valley Our Future have identified a third bridge in addition to the Odabashian and Sellar crossings as a key priority for local commerce and public safety. You can read the survey at the Transportation Council’s website, and give input at this link.

 

  • Downtown Connection would provide local and short-distance trips between the downtown cores of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. Estimated cost: $156 million to $272 million in 2024 dollars.

 

  • Sellar Bridge Expansion would feature an additional parallel span and would provide additional capacity for the state route. Estimated cost: $182 million to $318 million in 2024 dollars.

 

  • Mid-Valley Crossing would connect key roads in Malaga and East Wenatchee and would support commercial and residential growth, as well as emerging development and access to Pangborn Airport. Estimated cost: $186 million to $326 million in 2024 dollars.

 

Malaga Industrial Area Crossing would provide local and short-distance trips between Rock Island and Malaga and support emerging industrial development and provide another evacuation route for Malaga residents in case of a wildfire. Estimated cost: $186 million to $326 million in 2024 dollars.