The project managment team and community Task Force have developed some concepts for reducing future traffic congestion across the Willamette River in the Salem-Keizer metropolitan area. Like a puzzle, there are many pieces that need to fit together: crossing locations, bike, pedestrian, and transit, connections to existing roads, transit and roadway efficiency (system management and demand management), and your ideas.

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Help us put the pieces together! Attend an open house, take the survey, or send us a comment. Based on what the project management team hears from the public, new alignments will be added to the list of concepts.

The next step will be to measure the concepts against the criteria in the Evaluation Framework. If a concept doesn't meet the Purpose and Need of the project, it will be eliminated. Your input, along with technical analysis, will help to narrow the range of concepts to a few alternatives that will be studied in detail in the Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). After the Draft EIS is completed, the preferred alternative will be selected.

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Preliminary Crossing Concepts

Click on the colors below to learn more about each crossing concept.

Begins at the Salem Parkway on the east, extends south to Tryon Avenue, and connects to Wallace Road and Brush College Road on the west, north of the existing bridges. Most of this bridge would need to be elevated because it crosses over the floodplain.

This concept does not connect to Highway 22.

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Purple concept

Begins at the Salem Parkway on the east, extends south to Tryon Avenue, and connects to Wallace Road and Hope Avenue on the west, north of the existing bridges. This bridge would need to be elevated for most of its length, since it passes through the floodplain.

Could link up with the Red concept to connect to Highway 22.

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Orange concept

Begins at Pine and Broadway Street on the east, extends slightly south to cross the river, then connects to Wallace Road and Hope Avenue on the west, north of the existing bridges.

Could link up with the Red concept to connect to Highway 22.

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Pink concept

Begins at Academy Avenue and Broadway Street on the east, extends over the river, then turns south to connect to Wallace and Orchard Heights Roads on the west, north of the existing bridges.

Could link up with the Red concept to connect to Highway 22.

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Blue concept

Begins at Hood Avenue and Broadway Street on the east crosses the river and connects to Wallace and Orchard Heights Roads on the west, north of the existing bridges.

Could link up with the Red concept to connect to Highway 22.

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Yellow concept

Begins at Market and Broadway Streets on the east, crosses the river and connects Glen Creek and Wallace Roads on the west, north of the existing bridges.


Could link up with the Red concept to connect to Highway 22.

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Green concept

This concept suggests improvements to the existing bridges to increase the number of vehicles that can cross the river. Improvements would include additional lanes to the north and south of both existing bridges, while still providing crossing options for pedestrians and bicyclists (either on the existing bridges or on the renovated railroad bridge).

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Teal concept

Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Facilities

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities (such as bike paths and sidewalks) will be included in every alignment and will connect with existing trails and sidewalks. Transit facilities (such as park and ride facilities and express lanes) will also be considered.

Connections to Existing Roads

The project is looking at ways that a new alignment, or improvements to the Marion and Center Street bridges, would connect to the existing streets and neighborhoods.

The concept below shows how new bridge alignments could connect to Highway 22.

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Red concept - Connection to Highway 22

Transit and Roadway Efficiency Concept

(System Management and Demand Management)

Other ways to deal with congestion will be examined, including:

System Management tries to get more use out of what already exists. There are several ways to do this, such as adding priority lanes for carpools or buses.

Demand Management tries to reduce or shift travel demand away from the places and times that are congested. This is done a number of ways, including offering flexible work hours, expanding carpool programs, investigating pricing and tolling options, and changing land uses.