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Driving in Salem to get more challenging as road construction starts

A traffic camera captures the Center Street Bridge in downtown Salem Friday, June 17.

Salemites may need to take detours on their commute starting Friday, June 24, as the city begins work on three construction projects.

Center Street will be closed to cars and pedestrians between Northeast Liberty Street and High Street June 24 through 27 for the demolition of the Center Street skybridge, a city news release said.

The work will last through that weekend and is scheduled to end Monday, June 27, at 5 a.m. Detours will be in place for traffic over the Center Street bridge from west Salem.

The intersection of Southeast Commercial Street and Baxter Road will also be closed for a paving project starting Sunday night, June 26.

The street will be limited to one lane of traffic going north and south. Southeast Baxter Road at Commercial Street will be periodically closed during the construction. Detours will be in place, and work is scheduled to be completed early Monday, June 27, at 6 a.m.

The intersections of Northeast Portland Road at Hyacinth Street and Bill Frey Drive will also be under construction for pavement projects from Monday night, June 27 to June 29.

The intersections will be limited to one traffic lane going north and south from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Northeast Hyacinth Street and Bill Frey Drive will be closed in the east and west directions throughout the project. Detours will be in place until Wednesday morning, June 29 at 5 a.m.

The city’s Current Road Conditions Map is regularly updated with scheduled or emergency road closures in Salem. Those seeking more information should contact the city at 503-588-6211 or [email protected], the release said.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian