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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mon., Mar. 9, 2009 CONTACT: John Wales, Assistant Director Union Street Railroad Bridge Opens April 18 Sat., April 18, 2009 – Salem, Ore. – After one year of construction and several years of planning, Salem’s historic Union Street Railroad Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge is scheduled to open to the public on Sat., April 18 at 10 a.m. The new bicycle and pedestrian bridge will connect Salem’s Wallace Marine park in West Salem to Riverfront Park on the East side of the Willamette River. “The City of Salem is grateful for their partners in making this project happen – in particular, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the Friends of Two Bridges, and Cycle Oregon. All partners have been crucial to the project’s success,” said Salem’s Mayor, Janet Taylor. The new pedestrian and bicycle bridge will provide a critical half-mile link in the 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), book-end this bridge and the conversion connects their trail systems into a single, safe, and family-friendly network. The project improves bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility in Salem and it will also encourage use of alternative transportation modes, promote healthy forms of exercise (like running, cycling, skating, and wheelchairing) for both local and out-of-town users. The public is invited to the Friends of Two Bridges’ opening celebration on April 18. The event begins at 10 a.m. on the North side of Riverfront Park. The event will include a dedication, a formal ribbon cutting, and a public parade across the bridge. Thanks to several local sponsors, refreshments and family-friendly activities will follow the ceremony including a FREE day at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village. The Union Street Railroad Bridge was built across the Willamette River in 1912-13 by Southern Pacific Railway to connect Salem to the West Willamette Valley. The bridge was acquired by Union Pacific Railroad in 1996 and was purchased by the City of Salem for one dollar in 2004. The bridge was put on the National Register of Historic Places in January of 2006. In April of 2008, Carter & Company, Inc., a Salem contractor, began reconstructing the historic landmark. As part of Phase 1, railroad ties and tracks were removed and decks and lighting were installed. Railings are currently being installed. Phase 2 of construction is being planned for lead-based paint abatement and repair of the upper portion of the bridge. This work is scheduled to be complete in 2010 due to the generous contribution from ODOT’s Transportation Enhancement Program. The Oregon Transportation Commission recently approved $3.5 million of the economic stimulus funding, the City of Salem’s first stimulus funds, for the completion of Phase 2 of the bridge. Design plans and discussions are underway to proceed with the second phase later this year. For more information on the Union Street Railroad Bridge and the Friends of Two Bridges, please refer to www.cityofsalem.net/unionbridge. The City of Salem’s Urban Development Department is committed to enhancing community prosperity through an array of programs in its three major service areas, Revitalization and Urban Renewal, Federal Programs, and Real Estate Services. The Urban Development Department: manages the City’s urban renewal areas (URA) and redevelopment projects within the URAs; administers federally funded block grant and housing programs; provides loans and grants to eligible businesses, homeowners, and renters; and manages leases, acquires, and sells properties for the City. # # #
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