Salem Parking Structures to be Safer! Brighter! Better!

Both structures will be open during construction with at least 70% of parking spaces available at all times.

Photo courtesy: City of Salem

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Beginning Monday, Liberty and Chemeketa Parking Structures in downtown Salem will be undergoing renovation.

The panels around the outsides of the structures will be removed and replaced with steel cables and the outside surfaces will be recoated.

The result will be safer, brighter, better parking structures in Salem's growing downtown.

Work will continue into November.

The contractors will work on one side of each structure at a time in order to keep disruption to parking and area businesses at a minimum.

Most of the demolition work will be completed on a swing shift schedule.

Both structures will be open during construction with at least 70% of parking spaces available at all times. All other structures will be open as usual.

On September 12th, 2006, the Salem City Council received a report on the condition of the downtown parking structures that included a recommendation to proceed with the removal and replacement of the concrete panels on Chemeketa and Liberty parking structures.

In February and March 2007, an invitation to bid process took place and a contractor was selected. Financing for the project was established with approval by the Urban Renewal Board.

The renovation project has been carefully designed to keep disruption of downtown parking and business to a minimum.

Most elements of the project that require shutting down portions of the street right-of-way will be completed after business hours.

Stringent safety measures including tunnels and walkways for pedestrians where needed will be implemented. Businesses will be open as usual.

Information about the renovation project will be available and updated regularly on the web at www.cityofsalem/parkingservices.net.

Questions about the construction or about parking in general can be sent to Parking Services at downtownparking@cityofsalem.net or asked at the Parking Services Office at 340 Chemeketa Street NE or by phone at (503) 588-6133.