HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Closure of Cox Creek bridge tests drivers

Written October 8th, 2024 by Hasso Hering

This rig with a long trailer makes a left on Albany Avenue Tuesday afternoon amid congestion caused by the closure of Salem Avenue at Cox Creek.

The closure of Salem Avenue at Waverly Lake caused congestion and some consternation at the end of the workday Tuesday afternoon. I was glad I was on the bike and not in a  car.

One problem spot was the T-intersection of Albany and Salem avenues. Drivers planning to turn left on Salem had nowhere to go and not much room to turn around to get back to Pacific Boulevard.

The traffic detour around the closed section of Salem goes on Albany Avenue, Pacific Boulevard and Waverly Drive. The bike took me to Waverly, where I recorded this:

The Wildish company of Eugene has a $351,632 city contract to repair scouring of  the concrete footings under the Cox Creek bridge. The city staff told me the repair work would probably take about three weeks. The contract deadline for completion of the work is Nov. 4.

Drivers can only hope that this degree of congestion during peak traffic periods on Salem, Waverly and Pacific won’t last that long. Maybe it will ease in coming days as everybody figures out alternate routes. (hh)

 

The contractor found a way to store this work board by suuspending it above the closed Salem Avenue bridge on Cox Creek.

 

Drivers turn around on Salem to go back the way they came on Albany Avenue.





5 responses to “Closure of Cox Creek bridge tests drivers”

  1. TLH-ALB1 says:

    Just how hard is it to grab a map and plan a different route?!?!? Map reading…a lost skill for today’s masses. SMH

    • Cherrie says:

      The problem is not planning a different route. The worst part of the problem is that this has happened without warning. The traffic situation should improve as people become aware of the road closure.

      • TLH-ALB1 says:

        There was plenty of warning and signage posted that this would happen. I get very little news, but I do travel and read signs and not my texts, while doing so. Even Hasso wrote about this…and beings you are on here, I bet you read about it too.

  2. Richard Vannice says:

    Wasn’t there any signage in place indicating that there was going to be a closure and giving a date? If there was then shame on you for not seeing them, if not, shame on the City and/or Contractor.!

  3. RICH KELLUM says:

    It is better than it was, but as of Saturday the light was still stopping people unnecessarily, causing a further delay and mess-up, orange barrels have been put in place to move the traffic in the right direction, but some idiots still turn around in what was the intersection and bollix up the works. So………………HEY City, turn off the light or cover it, the world would be a better place…. :)

 

 
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