The last time Northwest political leaders floated a plan for a new bridge linking Oregon and Washington, it spawned a wave of partisan loathing so intense it eventually killed the project.

Today, four years after the Columbia River Crossing was abandoned, a humbler bridge project is inspiring a rare moment of political unanimity.

An artist's rendering of what a dedicated pedestrian-bike lane may look like.

Nearly the entire Northwest congressional delegation is backing a proposal from the Pacific Crest Trail Association to build a pedestrian-cyclist-only lane onto the side of the Bridge of the Gods in the Columbia River Gorge. In late February, Republican Reps. Greg Walden of Oregon and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington joined forces with Democratic colleagues from their states in urging Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to fund a $900,000 grant for planning, engineering and permitting the $15 million to $25 million project.

OK, it's not health care reform, immigration or another of the truly risky topics in Washington, D.C. There's no real opposition to the bridge addition, which boosters say will ease congestion on the existing span and create an important new tourist attraction.

"Getting Congress into gear is not always easy but adding a lane onto this iconic bridge for pedestrians and cyclists just makes sense in Oregon where residents and visitors love to enjoy our unmatched outdoor places," said Sen. Ron Wyden. "The road to principled bipartisanship can take many routes. I am glad this particular path passes through Cascade Locks."

The bridge is officially part of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. About 7,800 pedestrians crossed the bridge in 2017, more than half of them trail hikers. The narrow, two-lane span has no sidewalk and virtually no shoulder. Some hikers say the span, which is one-third of a mile long, is the most frightening leg of the entire trek.

"I've always been astonished that the Bridge of the Gods was so pedestrian unfriendly," said Dana Hendricks, regional supervisor for the association. "It is scary and unsafe."

Backers are convinced a pedestrian lane would lure in tourists -- think Portland's Tilikum Crossing but with better views. "I can't wait for it to get done," said David Lipps, owner of Thunder Island Brewing Co., a popular Cascade Locks craft brewery and pub. "I think it's going to be hands down one of the top two attractions in the gorge -- Multnomah Falls and the Bridge of the Gods."

Cascade Locks and much of the Gorge have had a rough time. First came the protracted ice and snow of January and February 2017. Then came last summer's massive forest fires, which ravaged some of the most treasured trails on the Oregon side of the Gorge.

The 48,831-acre wildfire, which began Sept. 2, forced and an extended closure of Interstate 84 from Hood River to Troutdale. The flames approached Cascade Locks city limits, forcing most of its 1,100 residents to evacuate. Several of the most famous Gorge trails, including Eagle Creek and 14 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, remain closed.

The idea of a potent new tourist spot sold Walden on the plan. "After the devastating Eagle Creek fire, this will help provide the Columbia Gorge an economic boost to rebuild and recover from lost revenue," he said.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association studied a number of ideas, including a standalone pedestrian bridge and even a ferry service, before settling on having a pedestrian-bike lane cantilevered onto the existing span, Hendricks said.

The Port of Cascade Locks, which owns the bridge, applied for the Federal Highway Administration grant.

Gordon Zimmerman, Cascade Locks city administrator, said the project also would finance seismic work that could "extend the life of the bridge 75 years."

There's no shortage of competition for the Federal Highway Administration money. The agency has received 68 proposals seeking $185.6 million, far surpassing the $32.9 million available for Oregon. Even if all goes as planned, construction wouldn't start before 2022.

But the political consensus on the project has Herrera-Buetler thinking bigger things are possible. "At this point, there's a broad consensus that the failed Columbia River Crossing was flawed on so many levels – but this effort shows that paying attention to what the communities really want would make a successful I-5 bridge update very attainable."

-- Jeff Manning