CORVALLIS, Ore. — Drivers can expect some changes in downtown Corvallis, thanks to a $3.38 million construction project funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Rick Little with ODOT says if there was enough funding, he would like to see a large interchange between Highway 34 and Highway 20 bringing traffic in and out of downtown – similar to the Beltline interchange in Eugene over Interstate-5. However, Little says because of the lack of funds, ODOT has had to be more creative with its strategies to minimize congestion in downtown Corvallis.
Construction is starting this week on one of the three components to the project.
“We’re going to have a bike lane come through the roadway,” Little said as he pointed to the intersection of SW Third Street and Van Buren Ave. “And it will allow the bicyclists to go from that side of the intersection where there will be a new, dedicated right turn lane, and travel north without any conflict with those vehicles turning right.”
Within the next few months, drivers will be able to use a right-hand turn lane on Third Street if they are turning east onto Van Buren Ave.
“The right-turn traffic can continue to flow and not continue to the overall congestion of the north-bound traffic,” Little said.
“Sometimes cars will sit in the crosswalks when they’re trying to beat a light or something, and there’s no room in the other lanes,” said pedestrian Kaitlin Kemball. “They just sit in the crosswalks and you have to walk around them or wait for the next light. So I think the construction is a good idea. It sounds like it will be safer.”
Little says because of the width of the bike lane, ODOT will need to take out a few blocks of parking along Third Street. Because the road is not as sturdy where the parking spaces were, crews ware excavating and strengthening the road grade below the asphalt.
Across the river into Linn County, ODOT is also adding an additional right-hand turn lane by the south bypass for drivers who are turning east onto Highway 34.
There will also be upgrades for pedestrians and bicyclists. ODOT is connecting the Susan B. Wilkins path near the OSU Rowing facility to the existing multi-use path on the north side of Highway 34. ODOT will also be extending the path all the way down to Riverside Drive.
Most of the construction will be done overnight. Drivers can expect all projects to be done by this fall.
