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The Oregon Department of Transportation is offering for the new Van Buren Street Bridge in Corvallis.

A $72.6 million project is under way to replace the existing, 109-year-old bridge that brings Oregon Route 34 eastbound traffic across the Willamette River with a bridge able to withstand a major earthquake. The new bridge will be built in the same location as the existing one and include two motor vehicle lanes, a bike lane, and a protected bicyclist and pedestrian path.

As part of the project, a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Northwest First Street and Northwest Van Buren Avenue to help reduce drivers’ lane changes when they approach the bridge as well as increase safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. Also, the intersection will gain textured concrete, a crosswalk on the north side and new bollards to help define pedestrian paths.

Planning for the bridge replacement project started in 2004. Reports were completed and designs were created, but no funding was allocated. Eventually, in 2017, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2017, which provided more funding; the Van Buren Bridge project resumed in 2019.

The new bridge will include two multiuse pathway connections – one to Riverfront Commemorative Park and another that will loop around and go under the Van Buren Street and Harrison Street bridges and become the relocated Suzanne Wilkins Way Memorial Path. The Harrison Street Bridge carries Oregon Route 34 westbound traffic across the river.

The project is nearing the end of its design and concept development phase. Plans are nearly finalized. Construction is expected to start in 2023.