Saying farewell to the old Van Buren Bridge
 Last truss of the old Van Buren Bridge in Corvallis, Oregon being removed.
Jan. 30, 2024
For more information, contact Mindy McCartt, 503-507-6045
CORVALLIS - The historic 1913 Van Buren Bridge has entered a new chapter, leaving behind only its concrete supports. These reliable supports will stand until the summer when work in the Willamette River can resume. This pivotal moment brings us closer to building a new, modern bridge that will improve commerce and travel in and around Corvallis.
The completion of two temporary bridges by our contractor, Hamilton Construction, was a significant achievement. These temporary bridges — a bridge used for construction activities and another accommodating a single lane for vehicles and freight alongside a dedicated bicycle/pedestrian lane — allowed the crew to make quick work of dismantling the old bridge.
Hamilton Construction shared this statement: “Many of our employees grew up here, and several of our managers are Oregon State University alums. The Van Buren Bridge holds significance for us. We are exceptionally proud to be part of providing the Corvallis community with a new 100-year bridge. “
Recognizing the sentimental value of the old bridge, we are dedicated to preserving its significance within the community. Local groups are initiating efforts to repurpose the turning wheel and the pony truss for a community project. Benton County Historical Society received the key to turn the old bridge. Community members are exploring various avenues to commemorate its historical importance. As part of these efforts, we are recording and documenting the bridge in the Library of Congress and creating an educational video chronicling the bridge’s history, construction, and cultural impact.
Pat Prescott from Hamilton Construction feels a mix of emotions as we take apart the 100-year-old structure. It's interesting to see how people built things over a hundred years ago. It's impressive to think about constructing these structures using the resources and tools they had at that time. Prescott added, "We, at Hamilton Construction, have formed a strong partnership with the ODOT team on this project, and we confidently anticipate that it will become a source of pride for us upon completion."
The next phase involves constructing a new, safer, earthquake-ready bridge. We aim to shift traffic onto the new bridge by late spring/early summer of 2025. This will allow the removal of both temporary bridges in the summer of 2025, followed by complete site restoration and cleanup through 2026.
The Van Buren Bridge project remains a collaborative effort aimed at modernizing our infrastructure. To see images of our progress to date visit our Van Buren Bridge OR 34 Flickr album.
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