If the ruling class in Salem really cared about bridges, they would build one south of Salem, to replace the ferry. A ferry, in today’s America, across a river only about 100 yards wide.
Cincinnati - N Kentucky has the Andersen Ferry. It is private enterprise, tax paying business. In Seattle there are numerous ferries in operation. I frequently took the Port Orchard-Bremerton Foot Ferry. During nice weather, many would throw their bicycle on top of ferry to ride to work in the shipyard.