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Heather Swanson and other members of the West Salem Neighborhood Association are not quite sure what to make of the idea of a bridge providing a direct flow between West Salem and Interstate 5.

The association has not taken a formal stand on the issue, said Swanson, the group’s vice chair. That might change after a meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Roth’s IGA conference room on Wallace Road NW.

“That’s kind of what the meeting is about, to make sure we have enough information to take a full position,” said Swanson. “We haven’t done that yet because they hadn’t nailed down a specific site yet.”

Members of the Salem River Crossing Task Force met for six years and spent $5 million before they voted 10-7 in August to recommend a $630 million bridge running from Wallace Road into the Highland neighborhood of North Salem before connecting with the Salem Parkway and Interstate 5.

The Salem City Council began considering the recommendation this month, extending a public hearing on the issue through Dec. 10. However, council members are holding a work session to discuss the bridge at 7 p.m. Nov. 28.

Salem’s Transportation Planning Manager Julie Warncke is scheduled to attend the West Salem Neighborhood Association’s meeting to address questions and concerns.

There are a lot of concerns about a possible third bridge connecting West Salem to the rest of the community, Swanson said. Residents and businesses will likely be displaced. There is also talk of partially paying for the bridge through tolls. All this requires a great deal of discussion before the association takes a formal stand, she said.

“Our speculative guess is that it will be better for people who don’t live in West Salem,” said Swanson.