Be Aware! Liberty Street SE Bridge Project Will Affect Your Commute Through Salem (AUDIO)

The section of Liberty that will be affected Photo by: Kevin Hays

(SALEM) - If you use Liberty Street SE to get to work, school, or downtown, Be Aware! that beginning in late July or early August, Liberty Street SE near City Hall will be reduced to two lanes of traffic while crews rehabilitate the bridge over Pringle Creek.

Salem Public Works spokesman Mike Gotterba says the bridge was built in 1928, and has settlement occurring in both the north and south bridge approach embankments.

Gotterba says they know this project is going to be a challenge not only for construction crews, but commuters as well.

In order to stabilize the approach embankments, steel sheet pile walls will be driven at both the north and south ends of the bridge.

New concrete end panels will also be added in the areas of the steel sheet pile walls to provide a smooth transition from the existing asphalt roadway to the bridge structure.

The bridge surface will be covered with a microsilica concrete overlay to improve the riding surface and minimize future surface maintenance.

The stairway from the bridge to the Pringle Creek pedestrian path will also be reconstructed as a part of the project.

Gotterba added that during the project, Liberty Street SE will not be totally closed at any time.

Gotterba says the city is cranking-up it`s outreach effort, notifying businesses and residents about the upcoming project so they can adjusts in anyway they can to minimize the impact the project will have on the Salem community.

The$1.25 million project is being funded by ODOT, the City of Salem, and the Salem Urban Renewal Agency.

Once the work begins, weekly email updates will be available to all interested parties.

To request email updates call (503) 588-6211.

Kevin Hays reports for Newsradio 1190 KEX and Salem-News.com.