A temporary span runs parallel to the old Van Buren Bridge over the Willamette River in Corvallis, Ore., in this undated photo provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Drivers will be directed over the temporary bridge while construction of a new, permanent replacement for the Van Buren Bridge is underway.
Courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation
In just a few weeks, the last vehicles will drive over the Van Buren Bridge, a Corvallis landmark that’s been standing for more than a century.
In mid-November, drivers heading east from Corvallis toward Interstate 5 will have to take a temporary one-lane bridge while the permanent replacement is being constructed.
Unlike the old bridge, the temporary detour won’t have weight restrictions, meaning buses, firetrucks and other heavy vehicles can cross it safely. It’ll also have a lane for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Mindy McCartt said the agency is working with historical organizations in the area to honor the old bridge’s legacy.
“The construction of that bridge actually began in 1912 and it opened and was built in 1913,” McCartt said. “That’s a lot of history that’s been over the top of that Van Buren Bridge.”
The new, permanent replacement for the Van Buren Bridge is expected to open in mid-2025. You can find more information about the new bridge on ODOT’s website.