ODOT Moving Ahead December 2011

Plan ahead for safe travel

ODOTMOVINGAHEAD.COM

Oregon

16 2011

December

Department of Transportation A Mail Tribune Advertising Department publication

December 16, 2011

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December 16, 2011

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ON OUR COVER The Ashland maintenance crew employs snowplows to keep Interstate 5 traffic moving along the Siskiyou Pass.

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Winter Road Maintenance ODOT crews tackle storms and icy weather to keep roads open

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Tips for Commercial Drivers Online resources make clear Oregon’s chain requirements

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Fern Valley Interchange Art Deco theme chosen for 2013 construction in Phoenix

CONTRIBUTORS Kristine DeVries Publication Supervisor

Gary Leaming, (541) 774-6388 gary.w.leaming@odot.state.or.us

Bret Jackson Graphic Design

For information on advertising in this publication please contact Patti Phillips-Kahn (541) 776-4396 pphillips-kahn@mailtribune.com

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Interstate 5 bridge work Exit 14 repairs face challenges as exit 19 replacement wraps up

EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Jared Castle, (541) 957-3656 jared.b.castle@odot.state.or.us

ADVERTISING Dena DeRose, (541) 776-4439 dderose@mailtribune.com

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INSIDE COVER Prime contractor Knife River Corporation (of Central Point, Oregon) paves the second phase of the U.S. 199 Expressway project.

Ed

Steve Johnson Photography Sally Ridenour, Shelley Snow Editing

This feature publication is produced separately from the Mail Tribune’s newspaper editorial department. All content is provided or approved 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 upon request.

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CAVE JUNCTION

safety project delayed to 2012 pedestrian-activated flashing beacon to alert motorists that a pedestrian is about to enter the crosswalk.

ODOT Project Manager Tim Fletcher is now looking at a March 2012 completion date for the Cave Junction safety project because of delays related to the signal poles.

Prime contractor H2 Construction (of Central Point, Oregon) is being assessed liquidated damages of $700 per day. H2 Construction chose a pole supplier from Oklahoma that had never manufactured poles to ODOT specifications. According to Fletcher, there are only a handful of fabricators nationwide that are approved to build signal poles to ODOT specifications.

Designed to improve two pedestrian crossings on U.S. 199 (Redwood Highway), the project was originally scheduled for completion before the start of the current school year since the River Street crossing is near the community’s three public schools — Evergreen Elementary, Lorna Byrne Middle School and Illinois Valley High School.

“Our focus now is to

According to Fletcher, now that the contractor has finalized their design for signal pole fabrication and received approval, the poles can be made. Between this delay, manufacturing and shipping time, and the holidays delivery may be pushed back until February.

get this project back on track and make sure these safety improvements are built as promised.

“Conservatively, it may be until the end of March before the signals are up and running,” said Fletcher.

In addition to construction of a traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk at River Street, the project improves a midblock crosswalk in downtown Cave Junction where one has existed for years.

The project adds a state-of-the-art,

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”

— ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers

“Signal poles are not an off-the-shelf item, so one hiccup in the process can really affect the timeline,” said Public Service Representative Dennis Steers. “However, our Rogue Valley project office managed $28 million of construction this past summer. The Cave Junction project represents less

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than two percent of that total, so we are trying to keep the issue in perspective.

“Nonetheless, our focus now is to get this project back on track and make sure these safety improvements are built as promised.”

The new Redwood Highway traffic signal at River Street includes a short median to accommodate left turn lanes on either side of the intersection. Since the start of the project in July, ODOT has ensured business access remains open and that blue ‘Business Access’ signs provide greater visibility.

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S WITH T N E M O M T IRPOR A D R A W K W arns

By Kim Ste tialing Manager, AVOID A d urity Cre en ority

s p i t y a Holid With a chill in the air and, more noticeably, the Christmas displays in store windows, it’s a definite indicator that airport travel is about to get a lot busier.

I don’t pretend to have all the inside information when it comes to aviation travel tips. But there are a few tips that can help minimize some of the hassle.

For starters, before you even begin to pack your bags, go through them first to see if anything has been left behind from a prior trip, especially if it is a multi-purpose bag that has been used for a recent hunting or fishing trip. You would be surprised at how many people stand, with mouth agape, as the TSA agent stops the conveyor because something has been identified as a prohibited item. For example, bullets, knives, and yes, even handguns.

Typically, the first words out of the passenger’s mouth are, “I forgot I used that bag to go hunting and must have left…” So, to avoid what could be an extremely awkward moment, take the time to purge your bags before packing for a flight.

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Sec Auth nty Airport Jackson Cou

Travelers today tend to dress more casually than in the past. I’ve even seen some passengers wearing their bedroom slippers! And after recently struggling at the passenger checkpoint to remove my cowboy boots, I’m thinking the slipper approach isn’t such a bad idea. However, during the winter months, we tend to layer our clothing, and when going through the checkpoint, passengers are being required to divest their shoes and outer garments. When possible, wear shoes that are easy to remove and be sure and collect all of your items after going through the screening process.

Traveling over the holidays can also mean traveling with gifts. Wrapping them before packing is not a good idea.

Regardless of how the gifts are traveling – in your carry-on or checked bag – if something suspicious triggers the machine, the gift will end up getting unwrapped, and not by the potential gift recipient. Instead of traveling with gifts, consider shipping them ahead of time. Shipping also provides you the opportunity to purchase insurance in case the item is broken in transit.

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As a matter of note TSA has begun deployment of full-body scanners known as Automated Imaging Technology machines to four commercial airports in Oregon beginning with Portland. Medford is slated for early December.

in terms of what is displayed on the monitor. With the new Automated Target Recognition software, only a generic ‘gingerbread man’ outline is introduced as opposed to a human figure. Additionally, if nothing suspicious is triggered, the screener will only see the word “OK” on the monitor.

These new AITs are far less revealing For more information on full body scanners, including safety concerns and how the machines operate, please go online to: www.tsa/gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm.

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A tale ofINtwo bridges ASHLAND Seventeen months after construction began on a new bridge spanning Interstate 5 at north Ashland (exit 19) the major structure and roadway work are complete. Prime contractor Oregon State Bridge Construction (of Aumsville, Oregon) has eight months before the contract end date to wrap up the minor finish work.

“It’s hard to believe that over a year and a half ago, the contractor began this project,” said ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers. “From a driver’s perspective the work looks finished, the old bridge was torn down and replaced.”

Once completed, the new bridge deck at exit 14 will be nearly three times wider than the old I-5 overpass. The bridge will feature two, 12-foot travel lanes, a center turn lane, traffic signals, bike lanes and sidewalks. Construction plans also include replacing non-standard bridge rails as well as adding roadway lighting, decorative pedestrian lighting and a bike signal.

“Drivers need to continue to be alert during the winter months as workers and equipment will regularly cross the travel lanes,” Steers said.

Bridge replacement at exit 19 has been an easier process than bridge repair at exit 14, Ashland’s south interchange.

Prime contractor Concrete Enterprises (of Stayton, Oregon) might go beyond the April 2012 contract end date.

“We discovered the repairs needed on the exit 14 bridge are more significant than we previously estimated,” Steers said. “The contractor found rebar and concrete that was not repairable. That meant taking the old bridge deck off and starting fresh with new rebar and concrete.

“At this point, we’re not sure if this setback will push the schedule back. However, drivers will continue to experience the split road configuration for some time.”

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Aesthetic design The new bridges at I-5 exits 14 and 19 will feature artistic treatments that reflect downtown Ashland’s historic architecture and natural environment.

In another nod to downtown Ashland, the light poles on the bridge will provide supports for banners. The light fixtures will be dark-sky compliant to minimize any light pollution at night.

A nine-member Aesthetic Advisory Committee, appointed by the City of Ashland, recommended an Art Deco theme for the bridges.

The bridges at exit 14 and exit 19 will be painted a light tan color to match their natural surroundings. New landscaping will be added, too.

The group found inspiration in design details from the rooftop of the 1925 Mark Antony Hotel (Ashland Springs Hotel).

Ten-foot tall concrete pylons at the ends of the bridges are topped by a pointed chevron design also found on the hotel’s parapets. The shape also is featured on the supports for the light poles. The pedestrian fencing with a rust-colored powder coating features a central arch design that can be seen on the hotel’s rooftop facade.

Oregon Transportation Investment Act Funding for both of these projects is provided by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act. The agency’s $1.3 billion OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program is repairing and replacing hundreds of bridges across the state to ensure the unrestricted movement of freight and spur economic growth. Of the 365 bridges in the program, 14 are currently under construction and another 256 have been completed and open to traffic.

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I-5 CLIMBING LANE paving set for 2013 Interstate 5 is the primary freight corridor on the West Coast. Along a 150-mile stretch from the OregonCalifornia border to Lane County are seven steep climbs that create significant congestion issues for commercial truck traffic.

crest of Sexton Mountain Pass. The climbing lane will be approximately 12 feet wide, located where the right shoulder is now. ODOT will then replace the 10-foot shoulder and the drainage ditch to the right of the climbing lane.

“Southern Oregon is the weakest link in the I-5 corridor,” said ODOT Project Leader Mark Leedom, who is managing the I-5: Glendale to Hugo Paving and Sexton Climbing Lane project scheduled to begin construction in 2013.

ODOT is currently constructing three short climbing lanes along I-5 north of Roseburg. One is located in the southbound direction at Rice Hill and there is one in each direction on the hill between Sutherlin and Oakland. Each of these climbing lanes is about one mile in length.

The project will pave 17 miles of I-5 between Hugo and Glendale, build a northbound climbing lane on Sexton Mountain and make other safety improvements in the project area.

Construction will begin in 2013 and likely extend into 2014.

Climbing lanes also exist on Interstate 84, where there is a seven-mile truck climbing lane east of Pendleton and on I-5 south of Salem, where a three-mile climbing lane assists northbound traffic.

Other improvements planned in the project include adjusting the southbound curves just south of Smith Hill to make them safer. Old and damaged guardrail and median barrier will be replaced throughout the length of the project. New signage will also be added in some locations.

According to Leedom, the northbound Sexton climbing lane will be about 2.8 miles in length, starting as an extension of the northbound on-ramp at the Hugo interchange (exit 66) and end just beyond the

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Commercial trucks can be seen using I-5 shoulders to navigate mountain passes. The new climbing lane will be built to today’s standards, thereby reducing the need for ongoing shoulder maintenance.

ODOT only has funding to construct one climbing lane as part of this project. Of the six potential climbing lanes in this segment of I-5, ODOT determined the greatest need exists at the northbound Sexton site.

“While there is no funding to build other climbing lanes at this time, the intent is to eventually add lanes on each of the three passes between Glendale and Hugo,” Leedom said.

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OREGON 99 AND 140 CORRIDOR plans up for public review The Oregon 99 corridor study examines current and future uses from Garfield Street, south of Medford to South Valley View Drive, north of Ashland.

The Oregon 140 corridor study examines current and future uses from Interstate 5 exit 35 to White City. A 2009 road exchange with Jackson County included portions of Blackwell and Kirtland Roads, Pacific Avenue, Avenue G, Agate Road and Leigh Way. “The recommended improvements include highway capacity, intersection

safety, the local road network and driveway consolidation along Oregon 140 from Central Point to east of White City,” said ODOT Planner Tom Guevara.

ODOT hosted three November open houses to share information with the public. The corridor plans are designed to improve safety and capacity on those roadways over the next 20 years.

“We are continuing to accept public comments on these corridor plans until the first of the year,” Guevara said.

“The goal is to complete the draft and final plans next year.”

thwest Oregon ilable online on the ODOT sou More project information is ava N3/index.shtml. gon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGIO region website: http://www.ore

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ODOT maintenance crews

rise to the winter challenge

ODOT maintenance crews throughout the Rogue Valley use different tools – plowing, chemicals and sanding materials – to stay ahead of the winter weather. For example, crews apply chemicals and sanding material on hills, curves, structures, and known trouble spots. Chemicals are used both as an antiicer, before the storm to help prevent ice from forming on the road surface, and as a deicer, after the storm to help break the bond between ice and the road surface.

The Siskiyou Pass presents a unique challenge.

When a storm hits Southern Oregon, the highest priority is the ten-mile stretch of Siskiyou Pass on Interstate 5, due to its importance as a regional freight route and its high traffic volumes.

Crew schedules are adjusted to provide 24-hour coverage during the winter to keep employees fresh and ready to respond to any storm, day or night.

“When a snowstorm hits the mountain passes our crews are ready for the challenge,” said ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon. “Keeping I-5 open is our first priority.”

ODOT maintains other mountain passes in Southern Oregon at lower levels of service than

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the Siskiyou Pass. The Sexton and Smith Passes on I-5 in Josephine County are equal priority to the Siskiyous, however those mountain passes are at significantly lower elevations and do not see the same frequency of winter storms.

The Siskiyou Pass is Oregon’s only mountain pass where all-weather or studded tires cannot be substituted for chains.

“Because of the grades, the traffic and the experience of drivers on Siskiyou Pass, we go to a higher standard of traction devices,” Marmon said. “When we say chains are required on the Siskiyous, every vehicle has to chain up except vehicles equipped with fourwheel drive.”

Ill-equipped for winter travel Storm-related delays and short-term closures on the Siskiyou Pass are a common occurrence. However, motorists are often caught ill-equipped to travel over the I-5 mountain pass.

“One of the biggest errors we see is people unprepared for winter conditions and a long wait in their car,” ODOT Maintenance Manager Everett Carroll said. Carroll manages the Ashland Maintenance crew, which is responsible for the Siskiyou Pass.

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“We’ve seen people in shorts and tennis shoes,” Carroll said. “They have no gloves and no flashlight, but they’re bent over in the snow trying to chain up.”

hour or more waiting for the road to clear.

Keep your tank full and ensure you’ll have plenty of gas to keep your car (and heater) running.

In addition to pre-trip recommendations for winter travel, ODOT recommends motorists use these tips before traveling over the Siskiyou Pass:

• Stay equipped. At a minimum, carry tire chains, a working flashlight and drinking water. Make your wait more bearable by taking along a pair of gloves, a cell phone and some snacks.

• Dress warmly. Leave the Hawaiian T-shirt at home. It may be warm in your car, but you’ll miss your winter coat should you need to chain up. Carry an extra blanket and spare clothing in your vehicle.

• Find relief. Don’t find yourself stuck in a snowstorm wishing you had ordered the small coffee instead. Nature calls, and loudly, when you’re sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Warm facilities are abundant in Ashland, so make a final stop before heading south over Siskiyou Pass.

• Fuel up. ODOT maintenance crews work hard to reopen I-5 during a winter storm, but it is not unusual for motorists to spend an

Preparation

ODOT encourages drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter driving conditions and drive with extra caution. Before traveling to areas that may have hazardous conditions, make sure your vehicle is ready: • Ensure the heater and defroster work properly.

• Test all lights. Carry spare light bulbs.

• Use antifreeze that works to -25°F; check and fill washer and other fluids and make sure hoses aren’t loose or brittle.

• Keep wipers clean and in good condition; fill the windshield washer tank.

• Make certain your battery is fully charged (also check battery age and make sure cables are not loose or corroded).

• Ensure your tires are in good condition and properly inflated for best traction, including your spare.

• Carry chains or use traction tires in winter.

• Keep an automotive safety kit in your vehicle.

If you travel with an infant or baby, pack extra food, warm clothes and blankets, toys and games, and extra diapers, just in case. Remember to use your child safety seat properly.

Before leaving, tell a family member or friend of your planned route and when you anticipate arriving. Keep them updated on any major route or arrival changes.

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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO use TripCheck.com & 511 Need to check the pass conditions for Siskiyou or Sexton mountains? Look no further than TripCheck.com, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s travel information website. The TripCheck.com network of cameras now includes nearly 300 cameras statewide.

Cell phones, Smartphones Oregon road condition information is available for cell phones and smartphones. The new service provides incident information, road closures, traveler services, camera views and more, formatted specifically for the smaller screens of mobile devices.

Users simply go to the site on their mobile device, www.TripCheck.com or www.TripCheck.com/mobile. An easyto-use menu offers access to traffic alerts, incident information, road conditions, and traveler services. In addition, cameras within three miles of a reported incident are linked directly to that incident for quick visual checking. Users can also create and save a list of the cameras they check most often.

5-1-1 service ODOT’s phone system provides the same road condition information as TripCheck. com, simply dial 511. Please be aware that some phone companies in Oregon do not support the 511 dialing option. If your carrier is among this group, please dial our other toll-free number 800-977-

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ODOT (6368). If you are dialing from outside the state of Oregon, please dial 503-588-2941.

Use TripCheck 511 system’s voice recognition system to ‘speak’ your instructions into the system, just follow the prompts provided. This can speed your use of the system and make selection easier, particularly for cell phone users.

The system will also allow you to interrupt the information being presented if you want to navigate to another menu.

For instance, speak ‘highway’ at any time and the system will return you to the Road Conditions by Highway menu option.

Custom pages On TripCheck, click on the “Cameras” tab. Click “View” to see the Custom Cam page with the images you’ve selected. If you like your custom cam page, save it.

The page will appear as a link. Open it at any time to get the latest visual of your commute or trip, or share it with friends, family, or coworkers.

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Winter driving tips

and resources for commercial drivers Winter weather conditions can make driving dangerous for anyone, but when you are driving a 53-foot long vehicle weighing more than 80,000 pounds, slick roads and low visibility can be especially challenging. An average of 100 truckinvolved crashes resulting in an injury or fatality occur in snowy or icy conditions in Oregon each year.

ODOT’s Motor Carrier Transportation Division understands that professional truck drivers have a very important job.

Winter weather makes a tough job even more difficult. So, ODOT is offering advice and resources, including a great short video, to help drivers prepare for winter driving in Oregon.

are posted on Oregon’s travel information website, www.tripcheck.com. Snow zone notices and road condition information are also available by phone. From within Oregon, call 511 or 1-800-977-ODOT (6368). From outside Oregon, dial 503588-2941.

• Know how to put your chains on.

Practice installing them before your trip.

• Don’t wait until the last minute to chain up. Pull over to a safe, level area. Wear reflective, warm clothing and lie with your legs pointed away from the travel lane.

Resources • Pick up a chain information card at ports of entry or Motor Carrier offices.

“We want to help reduce winter weather related truck crashes by providing some useful advice,” said MCTD Safety and Federal Programs Manager David McKane. “Safety is our number one priority at ODOT and we want drivers to know that we care about their safety and the safety of ODOT staff.”

Chain tips • Chains are required in Oregon whenever winter conditions exist and SNOW ZONE signs are posted advising drivers to carry or use them. Oregon’s weather can change quickly and without warning. It’s a good idea to carry chains during the fall and winter months.

• Oregon’s travel information website, www.tripcheck.com has chain information, snow zone notices, road closures, emergency alerts, cameras showing mountain passes and highways around the state and you can sign up to receive automated traffic alerts via Twitter.

• More winter safety tips are on ODOT’s website, www.oregon.gov/ODOT/ COMM/winterdriving.shtml • Winter safety for commercial vehicles – a short video posted on YouTube and ODOT’s website (www.oregon.gov/ ODOT/COMM/winter_truck_tips_video. shtml) features more tips.

• Chain information including snow zone notices, chain requirements and diagrams Tandem-drive axle commercial vehicles towing semi-trailers in Oregon must have chains on two tires on each side of the primary drive axle; or, if both axles of the vehicle are powered by the drive line, one tire on each side of each drive axle. Chains must also be placed on two tires, one on each side, of any axle on the semi-trailer.

Choose one of these two options

Option 1

Option 2

or Two tires on each side of the primary drive axle Two tires, one on each side of any axle

Two tires, one on each side of any axle

If both axles are powered by the drive line, one tire on each side of each drive axle

Key

Oregon Department of Transportation

Road conditions: www.tripcheck.com or call 511

Tire without chain Tire with chain

735-9912 (11/09)

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Chains may be placed on either axle

Chains may be placed on either side Stock no. 320445

December 16, 2011

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NEIL CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT

P U S P A R W lanes and wide shoulders to meet today’s standards.

The Neil Creek Bridge replacement project on Greensprings Highway (Oregon 66) wrapped for the season just before the first winter snows dusted Siskiyou Summit.

The highway is fully open with both lanes of traffic and no longer controlled by a temporary signal.

The new bridge replaced a narrow structure originally built in the 1920s. The new bridges is 44 feet wide, nearly twice the width of the original structure, with two travel

Prime contractor Legacy Construction (of Salem, Oregon) built the bridge one half at a time, with traffic controlled by a signal. The construction contract was $971,000.

“Although paving of the roadway base beat the start of the autumn rains, Legacy will return next spring to pave the final wearing course of the roadway,” said ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers. “Permanent striping will then be applied to the roadway for a project wrap. But until then, the roadway is open and striped for both vehicles and bicycles.”

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Design team develops

FERN VALLEY AESTHETICS

Collaborating with local representatives from Phoenix, the Fern Valley Interchange project team has developed aesthetic features for the new Interstate 5 interchange, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2013.

“We looked at the natural colors from the surrounding hills and grasses along with the predominant structural features in the Phoenix area to develop an Art Deco theme for the new interchange,� said Leever.

According to ODOT Project Leader Dick Leever, the utilization of concrete form liners and different stains and paints presents opportunities to build a bridge with the local look instead of the typical grey 1950s era concrete bridge.

The team filtered through several designs with the help of a Medford landscape architect, John Galbraith, before developing aesthetics for the Fern Valley Road bridges over I-5 and Bear Creek at exit 24.

Diamond Crossing Interchange Diamond Interchange

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The problem The Fern Valley Interchange connects Interstate 5 and Phoenix at exit 24.

The interchange experiences traffic congestion throughout the day, but is especially severe during the morning and evening commutes. Existing and proposed development along the east side of I-5, as well as development growth within the Rogue Valley, are choking the interchange’s capacity and causing safety concerns.

diamond design that provides a higher capacity to move traffic while reducing right of way needs.

The process

The project design keeps roadways relatively untouched east of the interchange while constructing a new interchange just north of the existing one, and realigning North Phoenix Road between Home Depot and the Peterbuilt shop.

The project’s design phase began in 2004. The Fern Valley Through design alternative was eliminated in 2009 because it would have an adverse impact on nearby farm land. Later, the Project Development Team unanimously supported the North Phoenix Through build alternative as part of the federally-required environmental assessment.

Vehicles crossing the interchange move to the opposite side of the road to either enter I-5 or to cross it, reducing the number of signal cycles for traffic to clear. The Missouri Department of Transportation was the first agency in the United States to construct an interchange of this design.

More details about the Fern Valley Interchange project and the aesthetic improvements are only a smartphone scan away.

The solution ODOT will construct the Fern Valley Interchange project using a crossing-

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Together, we can make US 199 safer

By Art Anderson, Area Manager for the Rogue Valley Highway projects are often topics of public discussion and debate at coffee shops, water coolers and even in the newspaper. No project in recent memory has received as much attention in Grants Pass as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s plans to remove the Josephine County Fairgrounds signal on US 199.

Next summer, ODOT will remove the signal and make other improvements to solve the crash and congestion problems at that particular intersection. This upgrade to the U.S. 199 corridor was part of a larger effort to improve safety and congestion. Planning for this endeavor began following the death of Rogue Community College student Holly Repp in 2003, who was killed as she attempted to cross the highway.

Following that tragedy, the city of Grants Pass and Josephine County agreed to be part of a larger team and look at improvements for the entire corridor. With stakeholders from the surrounding community that included Holly’s father, Randy Repp, ODOT initiated a federally

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required study of the corridor.

Discussions grew contentious when the group focused on Allen Creek Road east toward the South Y. However, all parties strongly agreed that improvements west of Allen Creek Road on U.S. 199 were essential.

The second of two phases between Midway Avenue and Dowell Road is currently under construction.

While the Alternative A project for U.S. 199 east of Allen Creek Road was canceled and the funds were redirected by the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation, part of this project contained safety funds for the removal of the fairgrounds signal.

The Josephine County fair board and its supporters are currently examining alternate egress on the west side of the fairgrounds property. ODOT’s project, in addition to removing the fairgrounds signal, will address the following measures: • build a three-way stop at the intersection of Ringuette Street and Union Avenue;

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“ Together, we can continue to make this corridor safer for everyone. ” • add a crosswalk on the west side of Ringuette Street for pedestrians crossing U.S. 199;

About Art Anderson Prior to working with ODOT, Art Anderson served 20 years as a Civil Engineering Air Force officer. As area manager for the Rogue Valley the past nine years, he oversees state highway construction projects in Josephine and Jackson Counties. He represents ODOT as a member of the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation.

• build a sidewalk from the new Fairgrounds entrance to Ringuette Street on the north side of U.S. 199; • lengthen the left-turn lanes on U.S. 199 at Ringuette Street by 200 feet; • add a left-turn arrow to the center lane for northbound travel on Ringuette Street at U.S. 199; and • widen the roadway at the intersection of Redwood Avenue and U.S. 199 to allow U-turns for the largest possible commercial trucks.

About RVACT

Eighty-eight traffic crashes occurred at the Fairgrounds intersection over the past three years, making it one of the most dangerous intersections in southern Oregon with an average of two and a half crashes per month.

With more than 40,000 vehicles traveling the US 199 corridor daily, some crashes are inevitable. However, we can reduce the number of crashes and their severity by working together.

The spirit of cooperation between ODOT, Grants Pass, Josephine County and local stakeholders has already resulted in significant safety improvements on U.S. 199. Together, we can continue to make this corridor safer for everyone.

The Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation was chartered in 1997 by the Oregon Transportation Commission. RVACT addresses all aspects of transportation (surface, marine, transit, freight, bicycles, pedestrians, and transportation safety) with primary focus on the state transportation system. The advisory body considers regional and local transportation issues if they affect the state system.

RVACT plays a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, which programs funded transportation projects. RVACT establishes a public process for area project prioritization and selection for the STIP.

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Second phase of U.S. 199 expressway

PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION Prime contractor Knife River Corporation (of Central Point, Oregon) is nearing completion of the second phase of the U.S. 199 Expressway project.

Knife River is building a low level median and installing a new traffic signal at Hubbard Lane as well as a

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new multi-use path on the north side of Redwood Highway between Dowell Road and Hubbard Lane.

The $5.3 million U.S. 199 Expressway project, also known as U.S. 199 RCC (Rogue Community College) to Dowell Road, is designed to make Redwood Highway safer for motorists

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“ They’ll be back next spring to

finish the final paving on the highway and install the medians.

— ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers

”

and pedestrians by separating Redwood Highway traffic and providing new facilities to bicycles and pedestrians.

Project design and development began in 2006 with a federallyrequired study of the corridor that included public input on the project.

“We had a full summer construction season and nearly got everything complete,” said ODOT Public Service Representative Dennis Steers.

“The weather held, so Knife River finished the base paving complete on the highway and final paving everywhere else.

The $3.5 million first phase of the U.S. 199 Expressway project improved safety along more than two miles of the corridor’s west side from RCC to Midway Avenue. The first phase installed medians to channe4l turning traffic and a raised median to stop a vehicle from crossing into the oppose lanes of travel. The project accommodated U-turns at Hubbard Lane and a wider intersection at Midway Avenue.

“They’ll be back next spring to finish the final paving on the highway and install the medians.”

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Final phase shelved Earlier this year the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation voted to remove the remaining $4.5 million from the final phase of the U.S. 199 Expressway project.

RVACT later reallocated the funds to other Josephine County projects.

However, ODOT will move ahead with plans to remove the traffic signal in front of the Josephine County Fairgrounds in spring 2012.

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RVACT is an advisory body that considers regional and local transportation issues affecting the state system.

“We’re working with the fair board, local stakeholders and the Josephine County commissioners on a new accesses west of the fairgrounds,” said ODOT Area Manager Art Anderson.

“Congestion and safety issues still exist on the highway, so we’re moving ahead with plans to remove the signal, said Anderson.”

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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • Check Road Conditions BEFORE YOU GO • Call 511

• Go to www.tripcheck.com

Motor Carrier Transportation Division www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT

SNOW ZONE

CARRY CHAINS OR TRACTION TIRES

SNOW ZONE

CHAINS REQUIRED

TRACTION TIRES ALLOWED ON VEHICLES UNDER 10,000 GVW

SNOW ZONE

CHAINS REQUIRED ON VEHICLES TOWING OR OVER 10,000 GVW

SNOW ZONE

CHAINS REQUIRED ON VEHICLES TOWING OR SINGLE DRIVE AXLE OVER 10,000 GVW

December 16, 2011

odotmovingahead.com

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