Union Street NE at Water Street NE
Union Street Railroad Bridge on September 10, 2006
The Union Street Railroad Bridge was built during 1912 and 1913.
Union Street Railroad Bridge on September 10, 2006
The bridge originally connected West Salem, Dallas and Falls City on the other side of the river to the Southern Pacific Railroad along 12th Street via tracks down the middle of Union Street.
This view looking east from the Union Street Railroad Bridge on September 10, 2006 shows the abandoned tracks from the bridge curving to align with Front Street. Note that if the tracks were straight (as they once were), they would go down the middle of Union Street in the background.
The railroad tracks were removed from Union Street in 1967, and the bridge was connected to the tracks in Front Street belonging to the Oregon Electric Railway, a subsidiary of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
The tracks leading from Front Street to the Union Street Railroad Bridge had clearly been out of service for a very long time when I took this picture on September 10, 2006, but I’m not sure if this dismantled rail joint was the work of metal thieves or was the railroad’s attempt at a permanent derail when the bridge closed.
The lift span was permanently closed to river traffic in 1980, and rail service across the bridge ended in the 1990s.
Union Street Railroad Bridge on September 10, 2006
The City of Salem bought the bridge from the Union Pacific Railroad for $1 in 2003. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 2006.
Union Street Railroad Bridge on September 10, 2006
On February 21, 2007, the bridge received a $1,000,000 Oregon Transportation Commission Grant, and was scheduled to be converted into a bicycle and pedestrian bridge by the end of 2008.
Additional Links:
Historic Railroad Bridge at Salem Historical Quarterly
Union Street Railroad Bridge at Discover-Neighborhood-History
Interpretive Signs for the Union Street Bridge at Salem Heritage Network
Friends of Two Bridges in Salem, Oregon
Historical Photos:
Bridge Under Construction, 1912 (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Railroad Bridge, 1913 (Salem Public Library)
Bridge Opening, March 8, 1913 (Oregon State Library)
Bridge Opening, March 8, 1913 (Oregon State Library)
Bridge Dedication, 3/15/1913 (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Railroad Bridge, 1915 (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Bridge, Unknown Date (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Bridge in December, 1964 (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Bridge in December, 1964 (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Bridge, Unknown Date (Salem Public Library)
Union Street Bridge, Unknown Date (Salem Public Library)
Burlington Northern engine on bridge post-5/81 (pnwrailfan.com)Burlington Northern engine on bridge post-5/81 (pnwrailfan.com)
Art Medallion on Fence near Union Street Railroad Bridge
Near the Union Street Railroad Bridge, a fence separates the sidewalk from the steep slope down to the Willamette River. This fence features some decorative art medallions.
Art Medallion on Fence near Union Street Railroad Bridge
These medallions were donated by the Gertenrich Family, the Northwest Human Resource Management Association, Mayor and Mrs. R. G. Andersen-Wyckoff, Thomas/Christine Neilsen, Lois D. Alexander, the Schirle Parents Club, and Paul O. Jewell.
Art Medallion Plaque near Union Street Railroad Bridge
Continue to 17: Salem Railroad Depot & Freight Depot…
The Southern Pacific still used the bridge even after Union street was closed. The SP And OE ran side-by-side On front street Until the re alignment front street.
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