In addition to the construction project underway at 10th and Main and at other locations on Main Street, the Main Street pedestrian improvement project between 5th and 10th Streets was advertised by ODOT and construction bids were opened on October 20. 

Last year the City of Oregon City competed for, and was awarded, about $2.4 million in Federal and State funding for infrastructure improvement projects focused on making downtown Oregon City more pedestrian and visitor friendly. This summer, contractors will begin work on the first phase of a multi-phase, multi-year project that could ultimately culminate in more than $4 million in streetscape enhancements on Main Street between 5th and 15th Streets.

The first phase of the project, which began this summer, includes returning Oregon City’s Main Street to a two-way — retail friendly road. This will be followed by pedestrian scale enhancements to the intersection of 10th and Main Streets. 

Improvements to downtown Oregon City’s pedestrian-scale infrastructure will have a positive impact that reinforces the idea that in downtown Oregon City people take priority. Unique small businesses flourish when the downtown marketplace is pedestrian friendly. Downtown Oregon City can continue to evolve into a fully mixed-use neighborhood when the streetscape design and vehicle circulation improvements are implemented.

The majority of the $2.4 million in project funding for the downtown improvement projects comes from Federal and State funds via several grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation. The intent of this project is to make downtown Oregon City a more pedestrian and retail friendly and environment in order to support the revitalization of the downtown marketplace.

The next step of this multi-phase downtown improvement project will occur between 5th and 10th Streets with the replacement of worn out sidewalks, curbs and cross walks, as well as the installation of new energy efficient streetlights.

For more information, please contact Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager, at (503) 522-1564 or email downtownpurdy@gmail.com.