Councillors voted to direct city staff to work with Oregon Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to complete their work on the Salem River Crossing project with ‘no build' as the preferred alternative.

The Salem River Crossing project is aimed at reducing traffic congestion for all users on the two bridges that cross the Willamette River and the connecting roads in downtown and West Salem.

“The option to do nothing, referred to as the ‘No Build’ alternative, is always a viable option in an Environmental Impact Statement,” said the council. It added that there will be no requirement for the city to repay federal funds used in the project to date.