Downtown Salem's Center Street skybridge removed after unexpected delays
The Center Street skybridge that was set to be removed by mid-morning on Saturday finally came down at about 7 pm. after crews were confronted with unforeseen and time-consuming challenges.
The construction crew’s crane arrived at about 9 a.m. with the expectation the project would be finished “in a couple hours,” crew members said. Instead, it took all day.
Related: Traffic delays expected during removal of Center Street skybridge in downtown Salem
Initially, crews had hoped to detach the bridge, lift it with the crane and pivot it, placing it in the former Nordstrom’s space that's currently being demolished.
Instead, they discovered the bridge’s attachment to the columns was more secure than they initially forecasted.
The columns attached to the towers had steel beams and material inside of the attachment. Workers used a hydraulic hammer to detach it.
But during that process, the crane stopped functioning. It took a couple of hours to get it back working.
Workers also discovered the skybridge was heavier than they thought. The crew members speculated the bridge weighs between 55,000 and 60,000 lbs, potentially heavier. The crane brought in from Portland was able to hold a max of 80,000 lbs.
Once the crane was repaired, crews finally were able to get the skybridge successfully moved.
Downtown Salem's skybridges
The Center Street skybridge was one of eight spanning downtown streets. It connected the Salem Center South Building with the former Nordstrom building.
The Nordstrom building has been vacant since 2018. The 60,000-square-foot department store is being razed and will be replaced with the Central City Apartments — a 157-unit, $25.7 million, five-story apartment complex with ground-floor commercial space, as previously reported by the Statesman Journal.
Other downtown Salem skybridges include:
- Liberty Plaza to Chemeketa Parkade.
- Chemeketa to former JCPenney.
- Former JCPenney to Liberty Plaza.
- Former JCPenney to Salem Center Mall.
- Salem Center Mall to Marion Parkade.
- South Salem Center Mall to North Salem Center Mall.
- Salem Center Mall to Macy’s.
Additional June construction projects
Paving improvements on Portland Road are also scheduled for this month.
Starting the night of Monday, June 27, the intersections of Portland Road NE at Hyacinth Street NE and Bill Frey Drive NE will be under construction for paving improvements.
The intersections will be reduced to one lane of traffic in the north and southbound directions from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., city officials said.
Hyacinth Street NE and Bill Frey Drive NE will be closed in the east and westbound directions throughout the project. Detours will be in place and traffic control changes should be expected until Wednesday morning, June 29.
Salem's Current Road Conditions Map provides up-to-date information on scheduled or emergency road closures. For additional information, call 503-588-6211 or email service@cityofsalem.net.
Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her atechan@statesmanjournal.com, follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemilyor see what she's eating on Instagram @sikfanmei.ah.