We'll update this open house and the FAQs if plans change or more detailed information is available.
You can visit the project webpage or sign up for emails to stay informed on any major project changes.Accessibility and Language Options (Opens in a new window)
Stations
Click the "+" to expand the section.
The existing Van Buren Bridge likely wouldn't withstand an earthquake event and is a bottleneck to travelers and freight leaving Corvallis.
The bridge is narrow, has low clearance and is in poor condition. The bridge is currently weight restricted to 12 tons.
As part of this project, we'll remove the existing bridge and replace it with one that's earthquake ready. We'll also make intersection improvements and rebuild NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st Streets.
We'll build the new bridge in the existing location. The new bridge will have two eastbound travel lanes, a bike lane and a protected bicycle and pedestrian path. You can get an idea of what the new bridge may look like by watching this video.
Each step of construction will take place over several years, we estimate completing by the end of 2026. We'll update the project webpage and send out email updates as we move through the stages or if there are any major changes.
Learn more about each stage of construction and the potential impacts by clicking on the orange tabs below.
Step 1: Building the Temporary Detour and Work Bridges
Work being done:
- Building the one lane temporary detour bridge.
- Building the temporary, six foot wide, pedestrian path as part of the temporary detour bridge.
- Building the work bridge.
- Installing a temporary traffic signal at NW 1st Street and NW Van Buren Avenue.
Impacts while the two bridges are being constructed:
- We expect minimal impacts to traffic.
- The park area next to the north and south sides of the bridge will close and be used for staging.
- The walking paths directly under the Van Buren Bridge on both sides will close during construction and reopen afterward. Pedestrians and cyclists can use alternate routes. Part of the new route is a crossing at NW 1st Street, which we've already restriped to increase visibility.
- Construction noise – expect significant noise caused by equipment pounding in the supports that create the foundations for the temporary detour and work bridges.
- Increased traffic on the east side as trucks enter and leave the staging area.
- Potential weekend closure may be needed when it is time to connect the temporary detour bridge to NW Van Buren Avenue. If this is needed, traffic will temporarily shift and the Harrison Boulevard bridge will handle both directions of traffic.
Click the next orange tab above to see the impacts during the bridge removal.
Step 2: Removing the Existing Bridge
Work being done:
- Remove the existing bridge structure.
- Salvage turning mechanism and two pieces of the truss.
Impacts during the structure removal include:
- We'll shift traffic off the existing bridge and move it over to use the temporary detour bridge.
- We'll restrict NW 1st Street to one way traffic from NW Van Buren Avenue, for one block in each direction. You won't be able to access NW Van Buren Avenue from NW 1st Street. There is a diagram in the FAQ section that shows how traffic will flow at the intersection.
- If you're in the left lane approaching the temporary detour bridge you can either turn left (northbound) onto NW 1st Street or go across the bridge.
- The right lane, approaching the bridge, is a right turn only lane to go onto NW 1st Street (southbound). NW 1st Street returns to two way traffic at NW Jackson Avenue.
- We'll restripe the parking on NW 1st Street for the new one direction of traffic between NW Van Buren and NW Jackson Avenue. We may also need to temporarily restrict a few parking spaces closest to the work bridge and to the temporary detour bridge.
- Increased traffic on the east side as trucks enter and leave the staging area.
- Construction noise.
- Pedestrian and bike traffic headed to the east side will use the new path on the temporary detour bridge.
Click the next orange tab above to see the impacts during construction of the new bridge.
Step 3: Build the New Bridge
Work being done:
- Build the new bridge.
Impacts while the new bridge is being built:
- NW 1st Street at NW Van Buren Avenue will continue to be restricted to one way traffic, for one block in each direction.
- Increased traffic on the east side as trucks enter and leave the staging area.
- Construction noise – expect significant noise caused by equipment pounding in the supports that create the foundation of the new bridge.
- Trucks bringing in the beams for the bridge will cause short delays.
Click the next orange tab above to see the impacts during removal of the temporary detour and work bridges.
Step 4: Remove the Temporary and Work Bridges
Work being done:
- We'll remove the temporary detour and work bridges.
- We'll remove any extra material or temporary items that were used to connect the street to the temporary detour bridge.
Impacts while the bridges are being removed:
- Traffic, bikes and pedestrians will start using the new bridge.
- One travel lane on the new bridge will be closed while the work bridge is being removed.
- NW 1st Street will remain one way direction until the temporary detour bridge is removed.
- Expect increased traffic on both sides of the bridge as trucks enter and leave the staging areas.
- We may need lane closures on NW Van Buren Avenue and NW 1st Street when we remove the extra material or items used to connect the street to the temporary detour bridge.
- Construction noise.
Click the next orange tab above to see the impacts of the work in downtown Corvallis and at the OR 34 bypass.
Other Work: Improvements on NW Van Buren Avenue from NW 2nd Street to NW 1st Street and at the OR 34 Bypass Intersection
Work being done:
- Rebuilding NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 1st and 2nd Streets.
- Install a separated bike lane on NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st Streets.
- We'll install ADA compliant curb ramps at all nine corners identified in the map above.
- We'll replace the temporary traffic signal with a permanent one.
- We'll install bollards and improved lighting at the NW 1st Street intersection. Bollards are sturdy, short, vertical posts that create a protective perimeter and make the area safer for pedestrians.
- We'll remove, preserve and reinstall the existing decorative bollards, artwork and columns.
- We'll replant or add new plants to finish any area that has been impacted or used for construction staging.
- We'll add stormwater treatment on the east side.
Impacts during the other improvement work will include:
- We'll maintain one lane of traffic on NW Van Buren Avenue during construction.
- Depending on which corners or areas we're working on, expect different pedestrian routes to get around the work zone safely.
- We'll maintain access to businesses on NW Van Buren Avenue during construction.
- We'll close a lane on NW 2nd Street while we work on the ADA curb ramps. [Work areas 1, 2, the west sides of 3 and 4]
- We'll need to remove eight parking spaces to install the new separated bike lane. [Work area 4]
- When we install the new curb ramps, we'll remove two of the parking spaces on NW 1st Street, north of NW Van Buren Avenue. [Work areas 3 and 5]
- While we're rebuilding the south side of NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st streets we'll need to temporarily restrict access to NW 1st Street. Plan for significant pedestrian detours during this portion of work. [Work areas 4 and 6]
- We'll close the crosswalk while we're building the ADA curb ramp at the OR 34 bypass. Pedestrians and bikes will need to use the crosswalk at Peoria Road to cross the highway. [Work area 7]
Click on each section below to learn more.
Businesses downtown will remain open and we'll maintain access to them during construction.
We will maintain access across the river throughout construction.
See the interactive map below to view the alternate routes during the various stages of construction.
Whether the identified bike route is on the existing, temporary or new bridge, bicyclists have the option to either use the path or the travel lane.
Pedestrian access and routes may change at different times depending on what work we're doing.
The interactive map below shows the alternate routes for bikes and pedestrians at different stages of construction. Sign up for project alerts to stay informed on the upcoming stages and impacts.
We've done our best to limit traffic impacts in the downtown area. During construction, we'll maintain one eastbound lane across the river.
There may be times when we need to move large equipment and materials in and out of the construction staging areas, which could cause short delays.
When we're rebuilding NW Van Buren Avenue or working on curb ramps, expect shoulder and lane closures. You can check out the staging map on the previous station for details and impacts.
If you're taking the bus, plan ahead and give yourself extra time. There aren't any bus stops in the project area and we don't expect many traffic impacts.
Buses that have routes near the project area may experience slight delays.
We'll maintain a 40 foot channel under the work zone for river users. The channel may shift during different stages, but we'll mark where you can go under the bridge.
Rendering of the future Van Buren Bridge
Click to enlarge the image
Learn more about the changes in pedestrian and bike access during construction by clicking on the orange tabs below.
Temporary Detour & Work Bridges
The bike and pedestrian paths directly under the Van Buren Bridge will close during construction and reopen afterward. People biking or walking can continue to use the existing bridge to cross the river.
Westside: With the path under the Van Buren Bridge closed, people can use the crosswalks at NW 1st Street and NW Van Buren Avenue then continue on NW 1st Street under the NW Harrison Bridge to cross back to the riverfront path.
Eastside: With the path under the Van Buren Bridge by the contractor's staging area closed, people can use the crosswalk at the OR 34 bypass intersection to cross.
Remove Existing & Build New Bridge
When we remove the existing bridge and build the new one, vehicles, bikes and pedestrians will use the new temporary detour bridge to cross the river. The six foot temporary bridge path will tie into the existing park paths on both sides of the river.
Westside: Path users can either connect with the riverfront park path or continue straight and cross at NW 1st Street.
Eastside: Path users will go underneath the NW Harrison Bridge to connect to the existing walking path.
Remove the Temporary Detour & Work Bridges
One lane of traffic, bikes and pedestrians will shift to the new bridge to cross the river while the temporary detour and work bridges are removed. The paths under the Van Buren Bridge on both sides will remain closed during construction and reopen afterward.
Westside: With the path under the Van Buren Bridge closed, people can use the crosswalks at NW 1st Street and NW Van Buren Avenue then continue on NW 1st Street under the NW Harrison Bridge to cross back to the riverfront path.
Eastside: With the east side path under the bridge closed, people wanting to cross OR 34 will need to use the crosswalk at the OR 34 bypass intersection.
Other Work
The contractor will complete this work at different times over the next several years. See what the pedestrian and bicyclist routes will look like when we're building the curb ramps by checking the boxes below.
Note: uncheck the box to view the next path. To clear all, check and uncheck the "turn on and off all paths" box.
Please note, these are renderings. The actual locations may vary.
Q&A
Click on the questions below to expand the information and learn more.
This construction project will take multiple years to complete.
If there aren't any complications, we estimate completing the work by the end of 2026. We'll update the community as construction progress on the project webpage.
Building the temporary detour, work and new bridges will require the contractor to have access to the construction areas and room to store equipment and materials. For this to happen, we'll have staging areas on each side of the river where trees will need to be removed. We have plans, approved by the urban forester, to replant trees in the impacted areas.
One of the most visible trees being removed is to the south of the entrance to the bridge, a Big Leaf Maple tree. We're working with the city and they have plans to repurpose this tree.
No. The temporary detour bridge can be used by all width appropriate traffic, including freight that currently needs to travel out of direction.
Last year, we engaged with the community to come up with potential design elements we can incorporate into the final bridge. The community prefers a combination of the native plants and tribal connections of the Willamette Valley themes for the potential concrete panels on the new bridge walkway. We're currently working to create durable versions of the graphics that can be cast into the concrete panels.
Yes. We'll keep a 40 foot channel of the river open for use during construction. The location may shift at different stages of construction, but we'll mark the path under the bridge for river users.
Click on the image to enlarge
As part of our historical review process, we've been working with members of the community to determine ways to commemorate the existing bridge and address other impacts on the surrounding area.
We have several efforts underway as part of this work. For instance, we'll work with our partners at Oregon State University to capture video and make a 3D model of the bridge to use in future videos. We're also planning to keep the turning mechanism and two sections of the pony truss panels for future exhibits.
These are just a couple of the things we've planned. We have a few years while the project is under construction to finalize what we're doing. Sign up for project alerts to get updates on our progress.
Yes. We'll maintain bike and pedestrian access across the river at all times during construction. Check out the impacts section called "What to Expect" of this open house to view the paths available during the different stages of construction.
To start, the construction crews are planning to work 10 hour days, six days a week between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. We're planning to build the temporary detour and work bridges at the same time to expedite construction. This will help reduce the duration of time when the construction noise is the loudest.
We expect most of the work to occur during the day, but there are a limited number of nights allowed during construction for night work. Usually, nighttime work is for activities that might be too impactful to traffic if done during the day.
Sign up for project alerts to stay informed on the latest schedule and work updates.
We're trying to minimize impacts on parking in the downtown area during construction. When traffic is moved onto the temporary detour bridge, the new access point will change the flow of traffic at the intersection of NW Van Buren Avenue and NW 1st Street. We'll restrict NW 1st Street to the south from NW Van Buren Avenue to NW Jackson Avenue to one direction of traffic and temporarily restripe the parking spots for that direction of travel.
On NW 1st Street, north of NW Van Buren Avenue, we'll periodically need to use several parking spots for deliveries and other construction activities.
We'll remove 10 parking spaces permanently. We'll remove eight spaces along NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st Streets to make room for the new separated bike lane and remove two spaces on NW 1st Street.
- One of the first things we'll do is install a temporary traffic light at the NW Van Buren Avenue and NW 1st Street intersection. This will help control traffic and make it safer for pedestrians.
- Once we shift traffic onto the temporary detour bridge, we'll restrict travel from NW Van Buren Avenue onto NW 1st Street to one way, for one block in each direction. See the diagram in the "Why is NW 1st Street restricted to one direction of traffic?" question on this page.
- There may be occasional delays when trucks carrying equipment or materials to the construction staging areas travel through the area.
- While we're rebuilding NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st streets we'll maintain one travel lane.
- While we're rebuilding the south side of NW Van Buren Avenue between NW 2nd and NW 1st Streets we'll need to temporarily restrict access to NW 1st Street. Alternate access routes will be available for pedestrians and bicycles.
Yes, our plans don't impact or restrict access to the public restroom.
Construction may impact some of the parking available on NW 1st Street, between NW Van Buren Avenue to NW Jackson Avenue, during market hours.
We're working with our partners to promote other ways to get to the market and to the businesses downtown.
We'll start by building a temporary detour bridge that the community can use to travel eastbound while the new, permanent bridge is being built. We'll also build a work bridge alongside the existing bridge for the contractor to use as they remove the existing bridge and construct the new bridge.
When traffic is shifted onto the temporary detour bridge, we'll restrict NW 1st Street to one way traffic, for one block in each direction. You will not be able to access NW Van Buren Avenue from NW 1st Street.
We'll work with the contractor to open NW 1st Street to two way traffic as soon as possible, keeping in mind construction work zone needs, workers and general public safety.
How it will work:
- If you're driving in the left lane approaching the temporary detour bridge you can either turn left (northbound) onto NW 1st Street or go across the bridge.
- The right lane, approaching the bridge, is a right turn only lane to go onto NW 1st Street (southbound).
Click on the image to enlarge
During the Corvallis Albany Farmers Market access to the parking spaces between NW Van Buren Avenue and NW Jackson Avenue may change.
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