The breeze was giving Benton County Engineer Laurel Byer trouble as she tried to keep the displays upright at Saturday’s Farmers’ Market in Albany.
Benton County and ODOT are trying to balance many factors as they try to find the best potential alignment for the long-discussed bikeway and shared-use path between Albany and Corvallis.
At Saturday’s farmers’ markets in Albany and Corvallis, there were booths with displays showing where the path might go, and inviting public comments. On May 19 the Benton County commissioners will be asked to weigh in too.
The path of roughly 8 miles would generally go along U.S. 20, the Albany-Corvallis Highway, or parallel to it. The segments under consideration would either be next to the highway to run south or north of it.
One possible alignment would require an at-grade crossing of the highway at Rainwater Lane in North Albany, which would necessitate some way of slowing traffic. The highway carries about 20,000 vehicles a day with speeds of about 50 mph.
That particular alignment would also put the path south of the rail line from Rainwater Lane eastward, and property owners there have made their opposition known.
ODOT has posted an online open house showing the various proposed alignments. You can find it here.
The many factors at play in finding the best route include cost, impact on farmers and other property owners, environmental concerns, safety of path users, and technical feasibility.
Online, ODOT says the project team will select the preferred alignment by next winter. After that, the project will have to wait for state funds to build it.
The Albany-Corvallis shared-use path has been talked about since it was proposed by the late Linda Modrell, then a Benton County commissioner, in 2005 or 6.
Considering the many complications and the likely cost, I don’t think I’ll live to see it completed or ride my bike along that path. (hh)
The market booth where potential alignments of the Albany-Corvallis path were displayed.
Well, if they pick a plan, at least that is a step that has been taken. Since they started planning in about 2005, I think a plan should be selected.
This path is akin to the Big Beautiful Ballroom…unnecessary , unneeded, unaffordable.
Since they started the planning in 2005, I don’t think they will ever complete the path or find the money to do so. We have 2-1/2 more years of Trump, so a bike path if the least of our worries.
I fail to see the connection, bike path, paid for by taxpayers who do not use it, big ballroom paid for by private donations not tax money. The possibility of tax money being used because Democrats complained and the only way something can go into a reconciliation bill is if there is tax money being used..
Riverside Drive phase 2 road widening to highway 34 needs some attention too. Two foot wide shoulder makes for some very close calls all summer long. I ‘m surprised there hasn’t been a fatality to date.
Westbound Pacific Blvd. between Verizon & PETCO could use some police attention with all the trucks & others that can’t seem to stay out of the Bike Lane.
May 11 @ about 1:45 the CITY “B” BUS had trouble staying out of the Bike Lane on 1st Ave. Once between Lyon & Ellsworth and again between Broadalbin & Ferry, which is REALLY Stupid since they have to get into the Left Lane to turn onto Washington for the Post Office stop.
I hope you can report on happenings on Water Street without showing us pictures of the pink bricks very often. Can’t stand to see close to 22 million greenbacks turned into pink bricks.
Oh boy….orange man bad & pink bricks in one post…oh my bike path…
A pedestrian and bike bridge at Hyak Park to Bower’s Rock State Park then make the path to Bryant on the east side of the river.
Bower’s Park floods virtually every as it is lower than Bryant Park. Expensive route! Can’t imagine what the bridge would cost.
My wife and I have ridden to/from Corvallis on 20 many times in the past 10+ years. Most of the road is great. Nice wide shoulders and a rumble strip. But once you get closer to Albany it gets narrow with the bridge by Hyak over Bowers Slough a real issue with the curves going into North Albany also too tight. I got to talk to one of the engineers at the Farmers Market and all the options seem too expensive and very time intensive (like going under or over 20). It would seem the best to widen the road and, if pushed, simply add a guardrail.
There are so many other places that could use the $ to improve pedestrian/biking, e.g. Springhill and parts of the Independence Hwy, that multiple bronze medals are better than a single gold