Construction of the Bonneville Dam 23 miles (37 km) downstream forced the bridge to be altered in 1938 to accommodate the resulting elevated river levels.

[3][4] Bicycles and pedestrians are prohibited from crossing the bridge due to its lack of sidewalks and narrow width.

The Hood River Bridge was closed indefinitely to all traffic on June 27, 2024, following a semi truck's collision with the lift span that resulted in severe damage.

[10] Plans to replace the existing bridge resulted in a 2003 draft environmental impact statement.

[11] A fixed span design concept with wider lanes and a bicycle/pedestrian path that meets modern seismic standards was proposed in 2022.