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ODOT clears Salem homeless camp on pedestrian walkway

The camp on the walkway that's part of the Center Street Bridge had been in place for several weeks. With dozens of campers, it was to the point where it was impassable for citizen use.

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SALEM, Ore. -- A homeless camp on a pedestrian walkway on the western border of downtown was swept out Monday morning.

The camp on the walkway that's part of the Center Street Bridge had been in place for several weeks. With dozens of campers, it was to the point where it was impassable for citizen use.

The Oregon Department of Transportation had put up eviction notices earlier and by Monday morning, a third of the homeless campers had already left.

"It’s been blocking the pedestrian path now for several weeks so people can’t even access the Front Street side here where we have parks and so forth,” said ODOT spokesman Lou Torres. “So from an access standpoint we really want to get that opened up.”

Credit: Rollins, Michael

A man named Javier who said he was an elder of the group of campers said moving out was tough, especially because he hoped the group would be offered a better spot to set up camp.

“I’m kind of depressed and sad that it came to an end but I’m more sadder that the government had no communication with us," he said.

ODOT and Salem police said social workers did visit campers more than once to offer access to services.

The camp was cleared and cleaned by ODOT workers, environmental cleanup and inmate crews after campers left with what items they could carry away.

Salem Police officers oversaw the dismantling of the camp, while connecting with the homeless. One officer offered coffee to campers as they gathered their possessions.

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