2nd Street NW in West Salem

Salem, Oregon

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West Salem’s 2nd Street NW Improvements Complete Ahead of Schedule

The City of Salem has reopened 2nd Street Northwest after making extensive improvements from Gerth Avenue Northwest to Wallace Road Northwest.

Plans to update this corridor began in 2013. After more than 10 years of work, residents and City staff are excited about the completed street and the revitalization of the West Salem neighborhood corridor.

Summary

The $6.1 million project, funded by the West Salem Urban Renewal District, was completed in two phases when construction began in 2023.

Phase 1 construction of the 2nd Street NW improvement project covered the segment of roadway from Wallace Road NW to Patterson Avenue NW and was completed in the winter of 2023.
Phase 2 construction, which will be wrapping up in mid-July, included improvements to 2nd Street NW from Patterson Avenue NW through to Gerth Avenue NW.

Project Accomplishments

The scope of work included:

significant upgrades to utilities,
addition of new sidewalks,
landscaping and street lighting,
curbs and new pavement,
bike and pedestrian street improvements.

Location

Construction of Phase 1 will include 2nd Street NW from Wallace Road NW to Patterson Street NW.

Schedule

The project is complete.

Background

History of 2nd Street NW
2nd Street Northwest used to be part of the Union Pacific Railroad. It ran over the Union Street Railroad bridge into Salem. The railroad owned the section from Rosemont Avenue Northwest to Gerth Avenue as an unpaved, gravel road until it was transferred to the City of Salem in 2011. In 2013, West Salem Urban Renewal paved the road, turning it into the street we have today. The urban renewal plan and the business district action plan focus on improving multi-modal connectivity for current and future needs.

Recent Developments
Since 2019, the Urban Renewal Agency has approved funding for the design and construction of 2nd Street Northwest. This funding was based on recommendations from the West Salem Redevelopment Advisory Board and the Citizen Budget Committee.

Key Achievements
A significant achievement of this project was completing the connection of 2nd Street Northwest from Murlark Avenue Northwest to Patterson Avenue Northwest. This connection provides a continuous route from Wallace Road Northwest to Rosemont Avenue Northwest. It addresses a long-standing barrier to efficient travel in the area and has been a key objective for the City.

Community Appreciation
The City of Salem would like to thank the West Salem businesses and residents for their patience and collaboration during the planning, design, and construction of this street improvement. We hope this investment will make the community proud and foster a more pedestrian and bike-friendly environment. Our goal is to create a walkable neighborhood feel and build a safer, more vibrant community for all West Salem residents and visitors.