On Wednesday, February 21, 2007, the Oregon Transportation Commission awarded a $1,000,000 Transportation Enhancement grant to the City of Salem for conversion of the old Union Street Railroad Bridge into a bicycle and pedestrian facility. The project is expected to go to bid in the fall of 2007 with construction taking place in 2008.
When completed, the project will provide a critical half mile link in the general bicycle and pedestrian circulation systems for the community, the region, and the state. Two large urban parks, Wallace Marine (114 acres) and Riverfront (23 acres), bookend this bridge and the conversion will also connect their trail systems into a single, safe and pleasant, family friendly network.
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Photo: Courtesy of the Oregon State
Historic Peservation Office
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The project also complements both the state-designated Willamette River Water Trail and a future footbridge project which will connect across Willamette Slough from the south end of Riverfront Park to Minto Brown Island Park (900 acres), adding fourteen miles of trails to the network.
An account has been created for private donations to the Union Street Railroad Bridge Conversion project - click here for more information.
For more project information call Todd Klocke 503-588-6178 or visit the Union Street Railroad Bridge Conversion project page.
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