The city of Salem announced Tuesday that it would delay its work to turn Northeast Court Street into a two-way street due to rain in the forecast through Thursday.
The city will send out notifications when the project continues on its social media and on its online construction dashboard. The paint used on roads requires an extended period of dry, warm weather to apply, the city said in a news release.
Original story below:
Traffic may be backed up on Northeast Court Street in the coming days as Salem city crews rework it from a one-way into a two-way street.
The three-lane street will have fewer lanes opens after the work begins on Tuesday, March 28, according to a news release from the city of Salem.
Crews will stripe lanes and parking spaces, adjust street signs and and activate new traffic signals between on Court Street between Northeast Commercial and High Streets.
The work is expected to be completed by Thursday, March 30, the city’s news release said.
The changes were recommended by the Central Salem Mobility Study, adopted in 2013. The project suggested converted to two way High, Court, Church, State and Cottage Streets.
The project, which will convert the westbound three-lane road into a two-lane road with left turn lanes, is intended to boost access to downtown businesses, the news release said.
Those changes are also expected to increase pedestrian, biking and other transportation options to cars while maintaining parking in both directions, according to city spokesman Trevor Smith.
The city completed a similar project in 2021 that turned State Street into a two-way street.
Court Street used to be a two-way street around the 1980s before it was converted to a one-way.
The changes to Court Street will cost $500,000. Funding for the project comes from the Riverfront Downtown Urban Renewal Area, whose funding goals include supporting downtown businesses.
One island already has been installed, according to Smith.
The city will be updating the progress on its social media, and on its online construction dashboard.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
