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MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
A publication of the Product Innovation Division of the Mail Tribune
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Friday, April 28, 2006
CONTENTS
PROJECTS
4
Seven Oaks Interchange
5
South Medford Interchange
9
Bybee Corner
NEWS
8
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
11 Work Zone Safety 11 Summer Youth Litter Patrols STAFF ON OUR COVER
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS Bill Boyett, Jared Castle, Gary Leaming
FEEDBACK
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jared Castle
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send them by mail to: Moving Ahead with ODOT ODOT Rogue Valley Area Office 100 Antelope Road White City, Oregon 97503
ADVERTISING SALES Angela Fraley (541) 776-4461
or e-mail ODOTMovingAhead@odot.state.or.us
PRODUCT INNOVATION Susie Wenaus, Manager Tirsa Villanueva, Bret Jackson, Graphic Designers Steve Johnson, Photography
Please include your full name and address, telephone number, and e-mail address, if available.
PRODUCT INNOVATION DIVISION, a division of the Mail Tribune Advertising Department, provides professional production and design services to market your business in print and on the Internet. This feature publication is produced separately from the Mail Tribune’s newspaper’s editorial department. All content is provided or ap-
A A $3.3 $3.3 million million pavement pavement rehabilitation rehabilitation project project is is underway underway in in Grants Grants Pass. Pass.
proved by the Oregon Department of Transportation. ODOT is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to a diverse workforce. Accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities. Alternate formats available uupon request.
A publication of the Product Innovation Division of the Mail Tribune
MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
Friday, April 28, 2006
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arlier this month, the Oregon Department of Transportation completed its first major upgrade of the 7th Street Bridge in Grants Pass over the last 50 years. The work required a three-week closure to rehabilitate the bridge deck and rail. The bridge work is part of a $3.3 million project to rehabilitate the pavement on 6th and 7th Streets, south of the Rogue River Bridges. During the 22-day closure, northbound motorists driving into downtown Grants Pass were detoured to the Debbs Potts Bridge and M Street. While motorists experienced congestion during most of the day, especially during peak driving hours in the morning and afternoon, the work was completed without a major incident or crash. “We really appreciated motorists’ patience with this bridge repair,” said Public Service Representative Bill Boyett. “We knew this stage would be a difficult period but we’re through the worst of it now.” Scheduled improvements include: • Overlay of 6th Street from south of the 6th Street Bridge to US Highway 199;
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HAMILTON CONSTRUCTION Providing safe highways for the citizens of Oregon for over 65 years. Hamilton is proud to have worked with Oregon Department of Transportation to provide safe, quality, cost efficient bridges and highways throughout the state of Oregon. Operated and staffed with Oregonians who are proud of their work, appreciative of Oregon's scenic and environmental heritage, and committed to growing with Oregon.
• Overlay 7th Street from south of the 7th Street Bridge to the ramps at Oregon Highway 238 (south of US Highway 199); • Add sidewalks to 6th Street and the north side of US Highway 199; • Improve the Harbeck Street intersection with Oregon Highway 238 and Union Ave.; • Realign Lewis and Park Street on the west side of 6th Street.
“Almost all of the paving crew from Copeland Paving should be off the roadway,” Boyett said. Another key project feature is the realignment of Park and Lewis Streets at 6th Street. The realignment will eliminate two of three signals in that short stretch of 6th Street to help traffic flow. “We’ve got a lot of work still ahead but, from a motorist’s standpoint, the worst is behind us,” Boyett said.
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The overall project is designed to rehabilitate the pavement and sidewalk features in the south Y area. Paving work on 6th and 7th Streets will occur at night, which should reduce the traffic impact for motorists.
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.EW ) BRIDGES 4WO EXISTING ) BRIDGES OVER THE #ENTRAL /REGON AND 0ACIl C 2AILROAD WILL ALSO BE REPLACED AS PART OF THE PROJECT
.ORTHBOUND ) TRAFl C WILL GENERALLY REMAIN ON THE EXISTING ALIGNMENT 4HE BRIDGES WILL BE BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THREE LANES OF ) TRAFl C IN EACH DIRECTION h4HESE BRIDGES ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED TO LAST YEARS SO THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN WE MAY NEED MORE LANES v &LETCHER ADDED
4HE CONSTRUCTION PHASE FOR THESE BRIDGES BEGINS BY BUILDING A NEW SOUTHBOUND STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE EXISTING BRIDGES /NCE THE NEW STRUCTURE IS COMPLETE NORTH BOUND ) TRAFl C WILL BE MOVED ONTO THE NEW BRIDGE WHILE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING NORTHBOUND BRIDGE STARTS
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Friday, April 28, 2006
3012 Crater Lake Hwy. (Next to Lava Lanes & Pennzoil)
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South Medford Interchange
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he South Medford Interchange project is ready for construction after more than seven years of development on the Rogue Valley’s largest state highway project since Interstate 5 was built.
“We’re very pleased with the bid,” said Area Manager Art Anderson. “Construction costs ramped up over the past year, causing us a lot of concern.
A241501 4/28
Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene, the same company that reconstructed the Medford Viaduct in 2003, was awarded the project with a low bid of $59.6 million.
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“Now that we’ve got a contractor on board, we’re ready to get in the dirt.” A joint venture with the City of Medford, the project is designed to improve safety and congestion. The project’s centerpiece is construction of a new interchange 1,900 feet south of the existing Barnett Road exit, I-5 exit 27. The new interchange design is called a single point urban interchange (SPUI), which handles large volumes of traffic.
OREGON
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Most of us take highways for granted. But the next time you're driving comfortably over a mountain pass in winter, just think of what a difference a highway could have meant for Oregon Trail Pioneers.
The City of Medford is contributing $15 million toward the project. Peripheral construction work began in February with tree and brush removal. Nearly 200 trees and brush near the Bear Creek bridges on I-5 were removed before interchange construction could begin. The SPUI is located close to Bear Creek, so additional bridges are needed to accommodate the retaining walls for the on- and off-ramps.
As Southern Oregon's leading highway contractor for 75 years, LTM salutes the Oregon Department of Transportation for designing and maintaining our highway system. It allows us to share the beauty of our state with our families and gives businesses a vital link to America.
Not surprisingly, the population growth in the Medford area was unforeseen when the interchange was built in 1963. The project Solution Team and Citizens Advisory Committee worked through more than 20 different concepts before identifying the Highland Alternative as the preferred alternative in the federally-mandated environmental process. “The development process took a lot of time but we needed that time to make sure we got it right,” said Project Leader Debbie Timms. “A project like this changes Medford and the surrounding area just like construction of the interstate did back in the 1960s.” According to Project Information Specialist Gary Leaming, a video is available on the project Web site, www.smedfordinterchange.org, which shows how the SPUI operates. “Our goal is to keep the public up to speed about the ongoing construction work, especially in regards to traffic impacts,” Leaming said.
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A publication of the Product Innovation Division of the Mail Tribune
MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
Friday, April 28, 2006
ODOT looking for public input on 2008-2011 STIP
I
f you ever wondered how major state transportation programs receive their initial funding, now is your opportunity to learn about the process and share your opinion.
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s short-term capital improvement program, known as the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), provides project funding and scheduling information for the department and the state’s metropolitan planning organizations. “Public input helps us prioritize future transportation projects,” STIP Coordinator Mike Baker said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the level of public interest and involvement in state transportation projects throughout the Rogue Valley.” While the STIP is a four-year funding program, federal regulations require the program to be updated every two years. The program is developed through the coordinated efforts of ODOT, federal and local governments, Area Commissions on Transportation, tribal governments and the public. The Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation recommended five modernization projects for funding in the 2008-2011 STIP for Jackson and Josephine counties. The projects are: • Oregon 62 at Coker Butte Realignment (Medford), $5.9 million; moves Coker Butte Road and realigns Crater Lake Avenue; • US 199 Expressway Upgrade Unit 2 (Grants Pass), $4.5 million: improves highway from Allen Creek east to Tussey; • Grants Pass ‘South Y’ Environmental Assessment, $600,000: studies solutions to operational and safety problems;
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• Interstate 5: Exit 14 bridge widening (Ashland), $1.5 million: provides signals, sidewalks and roadway lighting to overpass replacement; • Interstate 5: Exit 19 bridge widening (Ashland), $1.5 million: provide signals, sidewalks and roadway lighting to overpass replacement. Each modernization project would receive matching funds from local jurisdictions or from the Oregon Transportation Investment Act. The public review period for the 2008-2011 draft STIP, which contains over $2 billion in projects and programs statewide, ends in June. “We will be highlighting specific projects from the Rogue Valley at these public meetings,” Baker said. The 2008-2011 draft STIP is available online at the ODOT Web site for public review at http://www.odot.state.or.us/stip/index.html. The STIP is available in both a searchable format and a downloadable format online.
STIP COMMENTS 3500 NW Stewart Parkway Roseburg, Oregon 97470 michael.baker@odot.state.or.us
772-4040 800-332-TOW
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Project open houses will be scheduled in May or June. If you are unable to attend the public meetings in the Rogue Valley, you can send comments directly to STIP Coordinator Mike Baker at the following addresses:
A publication of the Product Innovation Division of the Mail Tribune
MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
Highway 238-Bybee Corner Safety project will improve sight distance, road alignment
C
ommuters traveling along Oregon Highway 238 that use Bybee Corner often take a deep breath before turning on Hanley Road.
“Poor sight distance and alignment are a dangerous mix with the higher speeds we see on Highway 238,” said Project Information Specialist Gary Leaming. “Thankfully, help is on the way.” Listed among the region’s top five crash sites, motorists were killed in crashes at Bybee Corner in 2004, 2000 and 1997. A 30-day closure of Hanley Road will begin May 1 to allow replacement of a nearby bridge over Jackson Creek. Hanley Road will be open to local traffic coming from Central Point and from Medford on Rossanley Drive. Once the bridge is finished, the $3 million construction project will begin eliminating the poor sight distance at Bybee Corner, creating a more traditional “T” intersection. “We delayed the start of the bridge replacement phase until after the Pear Blossom Run,” said Leaming. During the first phase of the project last year, adjacent Jackson Creek was realigned away from Oregon Highway 238. “In its former state, Jackson Creek next to the highway looked like a ditch,” said Region Environmental Coordinator Jerry Vogt. “However, it is a fish-bearing stream we would like to enhance.” About 1,700 feet of streambed was moved 30-40 feet north of its current course. Boulders and root wads were anchored in place in the fall, and winter rains flooded the new streambed. Surprisingly, the floods washed in gravel and other fine aggregates that provide good fish habitat. According to Vogt, ODOT worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop and improve the creek habitat. When completed this fall, Oregon Highway 238 will feature a gentle curve and no stop sign where the interchange exists today. The route from West Main Street will include a stop at the new, realigned intersection. “Drivers on Highway 238 will see the benefits of this project immediately,” said Leaming. “The road will be safer and much easier to travel.”
Friday, April 28, 2006
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MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
ODOT PROJECT BRIEFS HIGHWAY 62 CORRIDOR The Highway 62 Corridor teams are working toward submitting concepts for the Environmental Impact Statement. The Highway 62 corridor from Medford to White City experiences heavy traffic and congestion. The volume of traffic in the corridor is similar to that found on Interstate 5 north of Medford. Safety is another concern on the corridor. Crash rates from Poplar Drive to Delta Waters Road and from Corey Road to Antelope Road exceed the statewide rate, primarily because of the volume of traffic and roadways and driveways located between those points. To date, the teams have worked through many concepts with four under review. The concepts can be reviewed at the project web site at www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/region3.
I-5: NORTH ASHLAND-SOUTH MEDFORD Motorists will experience delays during peak travel times until Memorial Day as rehabilitation continues on four Interstate 5 bridges from Phoenix to Talent. Significant delays occur during peak travel times, the morning and evening commutes, because I-5 is narrowed to one lane in each direction. Work includes modifying the bridge rail to current safety standards and building a new concrete deck. The work is part of the $12.4 million South Medford-North Ashland interstate paving project, which began in 2005. Motorists should plan ahead, leave extra time for their commute and consider using alternate routes to avoid congestion.
NORTH MEDFORD INTERCHANGE The $36 million modernization project is now scheduled for completion in June. Originally scheduled for completion in October 2005, the project makes safety and traffic flow improvements to the east side of the Interstate 5 interchange (exit 30) that links I-5 and Oregon Highway 62, locally known as Crater Lake Highway. The remaining work is on Biddle Road. The contractor, J.W. Fowler of Dallas, Oregon, is widening Biddle Road, as well as completing curbs, sidewalks, driveways and landscaping along the road. The initial construction stages widened the bridges on Biddle Road and Highway 62; removed the Medco Haul Road over crossings; and built new on- and off-ramps for northbound I-5 traffic. Popular Drive was reconstructed and a new, signalized intersection was installed for both Fred Meyer and Poplar Square. A retaining wall that incorporates a design of salmon, cattails and sugar pine was built for the northbound I-5 off-ramp. You can view the project via the Oregon Department of Transportation’s travel information web site, www.tripcheck.com.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Moving Ahead with ODOT gives everyone the latest information available on the roads and current projects that affect our lives! Pick up your copy at one of these locations: Ashland A Midsummer's Dream Ashland DMV Ashland Motel Cedarwood Inn Flagship Inn Knights' Inn La Quinta Inn Les Schwab Tire Palm Motel Plaza Inn Port of Entry Stratford Inn Timbers Motel Windmill Inn
496 Beach St. Exit 14, Ashland 1145 Siskiyou Blvd. 1801 Siskiyou Blvd. 1193 Siskiyou Blvd. 2359 Ashland St. 434 S Valley View Rd. 2308 Ashland 1065 Siskiyou Blvd. 98 Central Ave. Interstate 5 555 Siskiyou Blvd. 1450 Ashland St. 2525 Ashland St.
Medford Britt Festival Capri Motel Cedar Lodge Ed's Tire Factory Jackson County Library Knights' Inn Les Schwab Tire Les Schwab-Medford Les Schwab Tire Medford Chamber of Commerce Medford DMV Pear Tree Motel Plaza Motel Red Carpet Inn Redwood Inn Relax Inn RV Transportation Stage Lodge Motel Sunset Inn Withams Truck Stop
216 W Main St. 250 E Barnett Rd. 518 N Riverside Ave. 2390 N. Pacific Hwy. 205 S. Central 500 N Riverside Ave. 2095 Commerce Blvd. 500 Matt Lp 701 N. Central Ave. 8th and Front St. 1174 Progress Drive, Suite 103 300 Pear Tree Ln. 1102 N Riverside Ave. 525 S Riverside Ave. 722 N Riverside Ave. 841 S Riverside Ave. Crater Lake Avenue 830 N 5th St. 617 N Riverside Ave. Biddle Road
Grants Pass Albertson's Beacon Albertson's Express Albertson's Allen Creek Albertson's Express Blind George’s Chamber of Commerce DMV Fred Meyer Josephine County Library Josephine County Planning Les Schwab Les Schwab News & Smokes Riverside Inn
340 NE Beacon DR 340 NE Beacon DR 1690 Allen Creek Rd. 1690 Allen Creek Rd. 117 SW G St. 1995 NW Vine St. 531 NE "F" St. 1101 Grants Pass Parkway 200 NW C St. 500 NW 6th St. 1694 NW 6th St. 320 Union Ave 1330 NW 6th St. 971 SE 6th St..
Other Jackson County Locations: Jackson Co. Roads & Parks 200 Jacksonville Inn 175 ODOT 200 RVCOG 155
Antelope Rd., White City E California St., Jacksonville Antelope Rd., White City N. 1st. St., Central Point
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ODOT NEWS BRIEFS WORK ZONE SAFETY Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer travel season. Summer is also the busiest highway construction season as many projects, especially paving, depends on warm weather conditions. Once a year, National Work Zone Awareness Week is observed as an annual reminder that the roadside is a workplace for hundreds of employees and that extra caution is required of motorists. The event was held April 3-9 this year with the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police offering safety tips for motorists. “The most important thing a driver can do is pay complete attention to driving, especially in the transition zone before the work area,” said Sunday Alberding, ODOT Safety Manager. “Slow down when you see orange barrels, cones and signs - even when there’s no construction work visible. Hazards still might exist.”
SUMMER YOUTH LITTER PATROLS The Oregon Department of Transportation has jobs for youth wishing to work outdoors and help keep Oregon clean. This summer, ODOT will hire youth statewide to clean up litter along state highways as part of the Youth Litter Patrol program. While the crews primarily pick up litter other duties may also include graffiti removal and general landscape maintenance. A typical crew includes a crew leader and two or more members. Crew leaders must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver license and good driving record. There is no maximum age for a crew leader. Crew members must be 16 to 20 years old. The Youth Litter Patrol program was founded in 1971 to help in cleaning up highway rights-of-way and is funded through the sale of custom license plates available through Driver and Motor Vehicle Services. To be considered for a job as a Litter Patrol Worker, register with your local Employment Department office. Youth Litter Patrols may work up to 12 weeks this summer. For more information about the Youth Litter Patrol program in the Rogue Valley, call the ODOT office in White City at 541-774-6351.
Facts and figures • More than 80 percent of fatalities in highway work zones are drivers and passengers, not workers. • Driver inattention is the biggest cause of work zone crashes. • Speeding is the second biggest problem; it is imperative that motorists drive the posted speed limit in work zones. • More than 400 work-zone related crashes typically occur in Oregon each year. • More than 40% of work zone crashes happen in transition zones prior to work areas. • Work zone crashes tend to be more severe than other types of crashes.
DON’T LET YOUR FRIENDS... KILL YOU.
• Highway construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. • The risk of death is seven times higher for highway workers than for an average worker.
Work zone survival tips • Slow down, pay attention and stay calm. • Merge as soon as possible, when directed. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of a merge sign. • Some work zones—such as line painting, road patching, and mowing—are mobile. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says, “END ROAD WORK.” • Try an alternate route. Visit www.tripcheck.com for construction information in Oregon or call 511. • Expect delays and plan for them. Leave early to reach your destination on time. • Finally, remember that even if a work zone looks inactive, people, equipment and obstacles still may be present.
They won’t mean to. But having a car full of distracting friends is one of the biggest reasons young drivers get in fatal crashes twice as often as everyone else. That’s especially true if you’re drinking, speeding or cruising around after dark. So buckle up, drive sober, slow down and drive without passengers. And live past 21.
Drive Safely. The Way to Go. Transportation Safety — ODOT
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