Project-Details

1979-1983:
An Environmental Impact Statement was completed to consider an alternate route for traffic to bypass the central business area of Corvallis.

2004:
Previous plans to study bridge options were revived.

2005:
An Environmental Baseline Report was completed to help determine requirements for the new Van Buren Bridge. A Bridge and Roadway Alternatives Report was also completed to study design options for locating a new Van Buren Bridge.

2006-2007:
Design options included a new bridge parallel to the existing bridge, a curved bridge between the old bridge and the Harrison Street Bridge and a bypass north to connect with OR 99W. No funding was available.

2008-2009:
An Existing Traffic Conditions Report was completed and focused on conducting additional traffic studies.

2017:
The State Legislature’s passage of House Bill 2017 provided more bridge funding and project planning resumed.

What has been done?

Design and Project Development Activities

• Design firm contracted and project kicked off in early 2019.​
  
• Project development team began design, concept development and public engagement.
  
• Right of way phase began in late Summer of 2020.
• Cultural Resource work started in 2019.
  
• Permits, applications, drafts and submittals.​ ​

Where we are at now:

The project team is working through permit and submittal requirements needed to move to final design stage.

We have started the process to address the impacts of replacing the existing bridge and as part of the Section 106 process we are seeking ideas from the community on how to best commemorate the existing bridge.

What is next?

Next steps will include finalizing the design and construction plans and activities. There will be outreach prior to construction, so be sure to sign up for project alerts!​

Past outreach and events:

• June 21 –​ July 5, 2019 | Online Open House (OOH).
  
• June 27, 2019 | Open House | Materials & Summary.
  
• January 12, 2020 | Tabling event at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.
  
• January 16 – February 9, 2020 | Online Open House.
  
• January 16, 2020 | In-person Open House | Materials.
  

• March – August, 2020 | Bridge Advertisement.
  

• View the advertisement document.
• ​View the advertisement video​.
• Summer 2019 – Summer 2021 | Section 106 Consulting Party Outreach.
  
• Summer 2019 – Current | Stakeholder and Cultural Resource Outreach (35+ events to date).
  
• July 27 – August 17, 2020 |Cultural Resources Online Open House.
  
• June 2 – 18, 2021 | Cultural Resources and Finding of Effects Online Open House​.
• April 18 - May​ 2​ | Spring 2022 Online Open House​​

(1983) Environmental Impact Statement - Study to examine an alternate route for traffic, which encomp​assed Van Bure​n Street Bridge and resulted in the South Bypass Project in 1995.​​

(2005) Bridge and Roadway Alternatives Concepts Report – Provides the bridge and roadway alternative concepts for the preliminary alternatives under consideration for the Willamette River (Van Buren Street) Bridge Project.

(2005) Environmental Baseline Report - Identify and characterize resources in the area that may be impacted by the Willamette River (Van Buren Street) Bridge project.

(2009) Corvallis Willamette River Crossing/Van Buren Bridge Proposed Solutions 2009 Traffic Analysis​ – The Corvallis Willamette River Crossing Alternatives Project works to find a solution ​to congestion in downtown Corvallis near the Van Buren Bridge.

(2019) Analysis of roadway alternatives.

(2019) Bridge Repurposing Study of the Willamette River (Van Buren Street) Bridge.

(2019) Historic Resource Baseline Report.

(2021) Section 106 Final Determinations of Eligibility.​

(2022) Section 106 Findings of Effects (FOE) Documents.​

• SHPO Response FOE Cover Letter
  
• Van Buren Bridge FOE​
  
• Corvallis Downtown Historic District FOE​​

(2022) Memorandum of Agreement on Mitigation for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

(2022)  Section 4(f) de minimis impact  

• Section 4(f) de minimis Findings for the Willamette River Water Trail and Riverfront Commemorative Park/Orleans Natural Area 
  
• Proposed Section 4(f) de minimis Finding for Public Parks, Recreation Areas, and Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges- Willamette River Water Trail 
  
• Proposed Section 4(f) de minimis Finding for Public Parks, Recreation Areas, and
  Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges Riverfront Commemorative Park and Orleans Natural Area 
  

Please contact us if:

• If you are unable to open a file. (Chrome browser works best)
  
• Need the information in an alternate format.
• Would like to request copies with the signed signature pages.