SALEM City officials plan two street projects

By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City officials plan to eventually lengthen Pershing Street so that it intersects with Cunningham or Butcher roads, a city official says.
Doing so would help alleviate traffic within the heavily traveled East State Street commercial corridor, city service Director Joe Julian said.
Extending Pershing Street about a half mile has been advanced by some city residents as an alternative to another city plan to extend East Third Street so that it connects with Roosevelt Avenue.
The East Third Street extension, which the city wants to do next year, is also being proposed as a way to ease traffic congestion on nearby East State Street.
Critical of project
But residents along East Third and adjoining streets have criticized the project.
Opponents argue that converting the dead-end street to a thoroughfare will bring more traffic into their neighborhood.
They are fearful more vehicles will produce more noise, endanger children and deflate home values.
Many of these same protesters have suggested extending Pershing, saying it's better suited as an alternate route.
It's not a matter of doing one or the other -- both projects need to be done, Julian argued.
The Third Street extension will provide an alternate route north of East State. Extending Pershing will accomplish the same goal south of East State, Julian said.
"It's not a matter of 'if' but 'when,'" Julian said of the likelihood that Pershing also will be extended.
Councilwoman Nancy Cope, R-at-large, agreed.
"We do intend to extend Pershing, but that doesn't help traffic on the north side," Cope said of the need to first extend Third Street.
The Third Street extension, which is part of a $1.7 million street improvement project, is expected to cost about $584,000, Julian said.
City officials plan to borrow money to pay for the undertakings.
Estimated cost
Stretching Pershing to Cunningham or Butcher will be more expensive, Julian added.
The project is estimated to cost about $3 million.
Much of that cost will entail paying for 60-foot-wide rights of way over private land so that the road can be extended, Julian said.
He didn't provide a timeline of when the Pershing Street extension project will move ahead.
But it has long been planned, Julian noted.
"Pershing's been looked at for 20 years," he said.