ODOT Moving Ahead - December 2012

Oregon

A Mail Tribune Advertising Department publication

Department of Transportation December

7 2012

High Cascade Snow Fighters

Wi nt

er

7

ON OUR COVER The High Cascades Maintenance Crew manages three mountainous highways — the upper section of Oregon 62, the entire 24-mile stretch of Oregon 230 and the upper half of Oregon 138W. INSIDE COVER Jackson County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Jenna Stanke walks along a section of the Bear Creek Greenway.

A reconstruction project improved seven miles of the multi-use trail.

itio

n

Fern Valley Interchange Agency reworks staging to minimize traffic impacts

12

High Cascade Snow Fighters Crews guard Oregon’s rural mountain highways

20

I-5: Glendale-to-Hugo $49 million project tackles steep summits in 2013

22

Oregon 140 Corridor Plan New study approach closes gap between planning, construction

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

CONTRIBUTORS Bret Jackson Publication Supervisor

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

Steve Johnson Photography

ADVERTISING For information on advertising in this publication please contact Advertising Director Dena DeRose at (541) 776-4439 or dderose@mailtribune.com

Jared Castle, Gary Leaming Writing

December 7, 2012

Ed

Sally Ridenour, Shelley Snow Editing A special thank you to screenprinter Brad Caylor, Design to a T-Shirt (541) 860-8056, designtoatshirt@hotmail.com), for assisting with the cover photo.

ODOTMOVINGAHEAD.COM

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.

3

Oregon 62 project

EIS moves from Draft to Final status

The community-based project teams overseeing the Oregon 62: I-5 to Dutton Road project are set this month to review comments made during the project’s federally-required, 45-day public comment period held earlier in September and October.

The project, formerly known as the Oregon 62 Corridor project, extends 7.9 miles from Interstate 5 exit 30 to Dutton Road. The project purpose is increasing capacity and safety on this strategic highway that connects I-5 with Oregon Highways 140 and 62.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) document is used to examine the impacts of the proposed multimodal solution.

“We had a nice turnout at the open house and public hearing,” said ODOT Project Leader Dick Leever.

“Many people came to learn about the project and had specific questions about how construction would affect their property.

4

December 7, 2012

“One of the main concerns we heard was how the full project build, estimated to cost $400 million, would impact their properties.”

The project’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee and Project Development Team, which have shepherded the project since its inception in 2004, will review the public comments for inclusion in the Final EIS. Team members will then be asked whether they want to formally reaffirm earlier design alternatives.

The Citizen’s Advisory Committee and Project Development Team meet next on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Parks Auditorium, located at 7520 Table Rock Road, in White City.

Once the project alternatives are formally chosen by the committees, they will comprise the Final EIS, which allows the Federal Highway Administration to formally approve the project.

odotmovingahead.com

Citation Way

Lava Lanes

“The Oregon 62 corridor is a critical business connection, locally and regionally, for freight, tourism and commuters,” said Leever. “The highway currently exceeds capacity standards; future growth is expected to significantly increase traffic volumes.”

The project’s first phase is slated for construction in 2014. The proposed 4.5-mile expressway would start at a small directional interchange from Crater Lake Highway near Whittle Road, follow the east side of the Medford Airport, pass over Vilas Road, and terminate at a traffic signal on the existing corridor near Corey Road.

The 2009 Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act invested $100 million into the Oregon 62: I-5 to Dutton Road project, which builds a four-lane expressway, along with sidewalks and transit-related enhancements, on the existing Oregon 62 corridor. odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

5

Pilot project SEEKS TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL GAS TAX It’s been five years since Oregon concluded its groundbreaking pilot that tested the feasibility of a per-mile fee charged to drivers in lieu of the traditional gas tax. The concept was proven in that pilot – the 2007 Road User Fee Pilot Program – but several key issues had to be addressed.

The 2012 Road Usage Charge Pilot Program (RUCPP) underway now is testing solutions to those issues.

“We took heed of the lessons learned in the first pilot,” said Jim Whitty, Office of Innovative Partnerships manager at the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Whitty outlined the program’s goals and mission to the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation at its November meeting.

Roughly 40 volunteers are involved in the RUCPP, which runs through the first of 2013. Pilot participants chose from four plans. The first three plans are taxed at 1.56 cents per mile, approximately equivalent to Oregon’s 30-cent-per-gallon state gas tax. Gas tax paid at the pump during the pilot

6

December 7, 2012

will be refunded or credited, based on fuel consumption reported from the vehicle or based on the vehicle’s EPA fuel efficiency rating. The four plans are: • A Basic Plan with no GPS or other location capability. The mileage is measured using the vehicle’s electronics (odometer); • An Advanced Plan with a mileage recording device that reports total miles driven, using GPS to determine which miles are driven outside of Oregon (miles not taxed); • A Smartphone Plan with a mileage reporting device that reports total miles driven, using the GPS function of a smartphone to determine which miles are driven outside of Oregon (miles not taxed). If the app is not turned on, only the total miles driven are reported; • A Pre-paid Flat Rate Plan with no mileage reporting device. The rate is $45 per month in lieu of reporting and paying for actual miles driven.

“It’s critical that we learn what’s needed to create an open system that can adapt and change as technology and the market change,” Whitty said.

odotmovingahead.com

UTILITY WORK SETS STAGE FOR 2013 construction start in Phoenix

It may be the middle of winter, but Phoenix-area drivers are seeing construction activity come alive around Interstate 5 exit 24. The work underway is utility relocation—the vanguard of the Fern Valley Interchange project.

Slated for construction in summer 2013, barricades, backhoes and bucket trucks needed for the project will slowly begin to dot the landscape.

right of way files are cleared it opens the door to begin moving utilities.

Power, phone and cable will be in the air on poles, followed by sewer and water in the ground.

According to Leever, the project will also remove a line of pear trees along the Grove Road alignment. During construction, the prime contractor will upgrade Phoenix’s water line as it keeps traffic moving.

The Rogue Valley Sewer Service is already in the process of moving a sewer line along Bolz Road and Fern Valley Road. This work and more to come will affect traffic for short periods of time.

“It will be quite a trick in such a tightly-developed commercial and residential interchange area,” said Leever. “Our goal is to keep impacts to a minimum.

“Utility relocates are critical to the Fern Valley Interchange project,” said ODOT Project Leader Dick Leever. “As

“We will quickly and efficiently build the project in stages that keep I-5 and the local roadways open.”

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

7

which opens up the entire project area for heavy construction.

“We’re proposing the project contractor builds temporary southbound on- and off-ramps in the southwest quadrant of the interchange area, funneling traffic into Phoenix via Luman Road,” Leever said. “However, staging proposals may be refined again when a contractor comes on board this spring.”

Project funding The project was fully funded thanks to a $25 million investment from the 2009 Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA), a funding package based in part on increases in truck weight-mile taxes, flat fees, registration fees, road use assessment fees, and heavy vehicle trip permit fees.

Project staging The project team collaborated with a group of private contractors earlier this year to come up with the best construction methods. According to Leever, significant grade differences (the new roadway is designed to rise nearly eight feet above the current level at the top of the southbound I-5 off-ramp) and the close proximity of the new bridge ramps to the existing ramps are just a few of the major challenges the project faces.

The result of that collaborative meeting with contractors was a staged approach that sets aside a large area for unimpeded construction and builds temporary roadways and ramps,

8

December 7, 2012

“The JTA investment was great news,” said ODOT Area Manager Art Anderson. “A major transportation investment like this reflects the excellent work being accomplished in the Rogue Valley.”

Unlike former Oregon transportation bills, the JTA dedicated most of the state’s share of revenue to specific projects. The bill listed 37 projects previously approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission that must be financed by bonds.

The $73 million Fern Valley Interchange project is on schedule to bid in April 2013.

odotmovingahead.com

“Between now and next spring, our staff will be meeting with the people who own, who work and who live in the affected properties around the interchange,” said ODOT Spokesman Gary Leaming. “Once we have a contractor selected, we will invite the Phoenix community to join us for a project open house.”

Leaming said his focus will be on keeping the Phoenix community informed during the two-year construction schedule.

“This will be a challenging project,” Leaming said. “We’re building new roads, new ramps and new bridges.

We’re widening Highway 99. Normal routes will change until the project is complete. There will be some short closures and delays. “But we’ll do our best to minimize the impacts.”

Bridge aesthetics Aesthetic features inspired by the hills and grasses — the natural colors surrounding Phoenix — are being incorporated in the final design for the new Fern Valley Interchange project.

Lu ma nR

The utilization of concrete form liners and different stains and paints presents opportunities to design a bridge with a local look instead of the drab concrete structures common when I-5 was initially built.

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

oad

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

9

The problem

The solution

The Fern Valley interchange connects I-5 and Phoenix at exit 24. The interchange experiences traffic congestion through 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.

ODOT will construct the Fern Valley Interchange project using a crossing diamond design that provides a higher capacity to move traffic while reducing right of way needs.

The process 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.

10

December 7, 2012

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.

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

odotmovingahead.com

AIRPORT PARKING TAPS RENEWABLE ENERGY Jackson County’s Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport broke ground last October on its first renewable energy project. Funded in part through Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Block program, the project includes the installation of a 15kW solar-electric system, which is mounted to a 30’ x 60’ standing seam metal roof canopy. The canopy covers three toll booths servicing long- and short-term parking.

The project will be the first step for the airport to capitalize on its solar resource and reduce power costs which directly affect operating costs.

The pitch of the canopy, plus perfect (non-shaded) solar access, makes the installation an innovative demonstration project for the community. With over 600,000 passengers and visitors at the airport each year, the installation will be seen by everyone accessing the front terminal area.

The project is eligible for an Energy Trust incentive.

“The collaboration between Jackson County, Pacific Power, and the Energy Trust is a win-win,” said Kim Stearns,

security credentialing manager for the Jackson County Airport Authority.

“The collaboration helps to promote innovation and increase the visibility of renewable energy generation technologies through education and community outreach.

“The impact of the project will be the approximate equivalent of taking two average, Northwest households off the grid.”

According to Stearns, local companies helped make the project a reality.

RHT Energy Solutions conducted the site evaluation and helped guide the Airport through the grant process.

True South Solar is the general contractor for the project.

According to the Pacific Power website, more than 80,000 customers are currently participating in the Blue Sky program. Since the Blue Sky program began in 2000, Blue Sky customers supported more than 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy, equivalent to the output of 772 utility-scale wind turbines over a 12-month period.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

11

Practice Key to Safely Chain Up Every winter High Cascades Maintenance Manager Dan Metz and his crew encounter drivers struggling to install chains on snowy roads. Metz launches into familiar song, “…practically perfect in every way,” as he exalts the value of regular practice.

when it is easier to read the instructions.

The agency has produced a video, “Tips and Techniques for Cable Chain Installation and Removal” that is available on YouTube.

“People who think they can start learning how to use chains when they reach the snow are a danger to themselves and other drivers,” Metz said. “Drivers often wait

ODOT recommends motorists practice putting on chains at home in fair weather conditions,

ODOT RECOMMENDS MOTORISTS REVIEW THE FOLLOWING TIPS ON CHAINING UP AND DRIVING WITH CHAINS: • Check your vehicle operator’s manual for the right type and size of chains to use. Then follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

• Ensure chains are the proper size. Don’t deflate tires to install chains.

• Don’t wait until you lose control of your vehicle before chaining up.

• Pull over to a safe and level area to mount or remove chains.

• Carry a waterproof tarp or plastic sheet to help keep you dry.

12

December 7, 2012

• Keep children and pets safe in your car to avoid distraction and injury.

• Pull over in a safe place and retighten your tire chains after you have driven a short distance.

• Pull over and stop immediately if any part of your chain fails or comes loose.

• Don’t drive faster than 30 miles per hour when using chains. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Avoid spinning or locking your wheels.

• Remember, you can slide even with chains, so drive carefully and slowly.

odotmovingahead.com

too long to put on chains, blocking lanes and delaying traffic. Our snowplows need the room to work.”

More help on chaining up safely is only a smartphone scan away.

ODOT’s winter maintenance goal is to maintain a safe driving surface.

Rogue Valley maintenance crews shift their schedules to provide 24-hour coverage, keeping employees fresh and ready to respond to any storm, day or night. Road condition updates are available on ODOT’s travel information website, Tripcheck.Com or by calling 511.

The High Cascades Maintenance Crew manages three mountain highways — the upper section of the Crater Lake Highway (Oregon 62), the entire 24-mile stretch of the West Diamond Lake Highway (Oregon 230) and the upper section of the North Umpqua Highway (Oregon 138W).

“Snow is our business,” said Metz.

“We’re ready for it and drivers should be, too.”

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

13

n o i t a r tion a c e t p o e r r p P is the best

Medford. “We see a ton of tow-ins during the holidays, people from Portland or San Francisco who didn’t do a trip check.

“Just a basic trip check would save them a lot of hassle.”

Kelly said drivers should know the basic function of their vehicle and be attentive while driving. Often problems occur when a driver simply ignores a noise.

“If you are hearing a noise, don’t keep driving,” Kelly said. “We’ve seen many people blow up their engines because they just keep pushing their vehicle further down the highway.”

There’s no way sure-fire way to prevent roadside breakdowns but you can avoid many problems before leaving home.

“The first thing you need to do is get a basic check, a 52-point inspection,” said Lisa McClease-Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Automotive in Grants Pass and

Kelly regularly offers a free car care clinic for women about automotive-related decisions. If you are interested in attending, call 541-830-4005.

Preparing your vehicle is critical before traveling in mountainous areas or in hazardous weather conditions. 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.

WINTER PREPARATION TIPS • Ensure your vehicle’s heater and defroster work properly.

• Test all lights. Carry spare light bulbs.

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

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

16

December 7, 2012

• Make certain your battery is fully charged (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 • Keep an automotive safety kit in your vehicle.

odotmovingahead.com

ODOT Tests Salt Pilot Project The Siskiyou Pass is one of two fiveyear pilot projects where ODOT would use salt in limited weather and roadway conditions. Both pilot projects focus on areas adjoining neighboring states that use salt on their parts of these highways; travelers crossing the state border expect similar roadway conditions across the state border, but run into vastly different conditions.

This increases the likelihood of crashes and injuries.

California uses salt to reduce the buildup of snowpack on Interstate 5 in the Siskiyou Pass. The Oregon side of Interstate 5 often experiences packed snow, which leads to chain restrictions, travel delays and road closures.

More details about the Salt Pilot Project are only a smartphone scan away.

ODOT will investigate salt use along the 11-mile stretch of the Siskiyou Pass to match driver expectations from California.

Both Nevada and Idaho use salt to reduce snowpack on U.S. 95, which runs for about 120 miles through the southeast corner of Oregon. At the two state borders, travelers entering Oregon experience different roadway conditions, moving from slush to hard-packed snow and ice. These border areas experience more crashes.

Using salt in limited conditions could help improve roadway surface consistency, reducing dangerous driving conditions and reducing crashes and injuries.

ODOT will conduct these pilot projects for five years to assess whether the limited use of salt can help reduce crashes and injuries and meet driver expectations across state borders.

ODOT does not have plans to use salt anywhere else.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

17

Bear Creek Greenway

Reconstruction Work

Improves Seven Miles of the Multi-use Trail jurisdictions that manage the trail, provided the approximately $170,000 local match for the $1.7 million project, which included grants from the Readiness, Federal Flexible Funds, Discretionary Transportation Enhancements and ODOT’s Bicycle/Pedestrian programs.

According to Stanke, several various repair plots were installed on a short stretch of trail with extensive root damage just north of Phoenix as part of another grant project. Short sections of porous concrete, decomposed granite, rubber pavers, and root barrier are being analyzed and will be monitored, with the goal of determining which solutions are most cost effective, amenable to trail users, and resilient to root damage.

Seven miles of smoother walking, biking, and skating on the Bear Creek Greenway are the result of reconstruction work last summer.

Repairs focused on the oldest sections of the multi-use trail, where the trail runs through Medford and between Ashland and Talent. These sections of the trail, originally built in the 1970s and early 1980s, had significant root damage and pavement deterioration.

“We’ll use what we find from the root project to determine how to best complete future spot fixes on the trail where roots are heaving the pavement,” says Stanke.

The $62,000 root repair project was funded with a grant from the State Parks Recreational Trails Program, with a local contribution of $13,000 from Bear Creek Greenway Joint Powers Committee funds.

“ The reconstruction

Full depth reclamation, a process where the deteriorating pavement is ground up and mixed with powdered cement and used as base for the new asphalt, was used to repair most of these sections. Reinforced concrete was used to repair another section of trail north of Ashland that was plagued with longitudinal cracking.

“The reconstruction project is a gamechanger for the Bear Creek Greenway,” said Jackson County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Jenna Stanke.

“Over one third of the trail was rough, narrow, or both, and now it’s new, wide, smooth pavement. That’s really a huge improvement.”

The Bear Creek Greenway Joint Powers Committee, a consortium of the

18

December 7, 2012

project is a gamechanger for the Bear Creek Greenway.

”

— Jackson County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Jenna Stanke

The next project involves installing informational signage, including mile markers, map kiosks, and directional and location signs along the trail. This work is scheduled for this winter and next spring, thanks to another Recreational Trails Program grant. Work on the trail will also include spot repairs for root heaves as well as pavement maintenance such as sealing the asphalt and repairing shoulder rock.

odotmovingahead.com

Greenway Trail Etiquette Yield to Pedestrians Pedestrians always have the right of way.

Obey All Trail Signs & Rules For your safety, note all marked hazards and travel at a safe speed.

Keep Pets on Short Leash Walk pets on the right-hand shoulder if possible.

Use a 5-foot or shorter leash, and clean/carry out your pet’s waste.

Keep Right and Pass on Left Think of the trail as a roadway. Always allow other users room to pass you on the left.

If You Stop, Please Leave the Trail Always allow other trail users room to pass on the left.

Announce Yourself Before Passing — Politely Warn Trail Users as You Approach from Behind Example, “Passing on your left!”

Please Help Keep the Trail Safe and Clean Report any suspicious behavior to 911.

Absolutely No Motorized Vehicles on Trail, Including Scooters Handicap scooters are the exception to this rule.

Did you know?

Trail counts conducted in May 2012 determined that there are over 150,000 trips annually and over 400 trips per day at each of six locations on the trail. Greenway Host and Adopt-a-Greenway programs are up and running for residents interested in volunteering.

The Bear Creek Greenway is complete from the Ashland Dog Park to Pine Street in Central Point.

Stanke said another project is in the works to connect through the Expo property to another .85-mile of trail from Upton Road to Dean Creek Road, which will create a 20-mile continuous trail.

Go online to www.pinetoupton.org to find out more and help the effort.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

19

I-5 CLIMBING LANE PROJECT STARTS IN 2013

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 on the two-year project will begin in 2013.

Interstate 5 is the primary freight corridor on the West Coast.

Along a 150-mile stretch from the Oregon-California border to Lane County are seven steep climbs that create significant congestion issues for commercial truck traffic. “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.

20

December 7, 2012

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.

odotmovingahead.com

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 crest of Sexton Mountain Pass.

The climbing lane will be approximately 12 feet wide, located where the right shoulder is now.

ODOT will replace the 10-foot shoulder and the drainage ditch to the right of the climbing lane.

Exit 80

Exit 76

Exit 71

ODOT recently constructed 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.

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

Exit 66

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 on-going 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.

Scan this QR code if you would like to receive project updates, including news about traffic impacts.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

21

OREGON 140 CORRIDOR PLAN IDENTIFIES 19 IMPROVEMENTS

Nineteen transportation concepts that will improve safety, operations and capacity along the Oregon 140 corridor were unveiled to the public at an open house held at the White City library last November.

The study area of the Oregon 140 Corridor Plan spans from Interstate 5 exit 35 (locally known as the Seven Oaks interchange) to the Oregon 140 intersection with Brownsboro Road.

Encompassing roadways traded with Jackson County in 2009, the corridor includes Blackwell Road, Kirtland Road, Pacific Avenue, Avenue G, Agate Road to Leigh Way, and east of White City to the intersection of Brownsboro Road.

“The Plan identified two major improvements – widening the Blackwell Road segment of Oregon 140 and improving the intersection of Oregon 140 and Oregon 62,” said ODOT Planner Tom Guevara, “and 17 smaller improvements, such as adding turn lanes at various intersections.”

Project consultant David Evans & Associates developed a project sheet that details the concept, design and associated issues for 19 different highway improvements along the corridor.

“Typically, we develop concepts in corridor plans at the 10,000-foot level,” said Guevara. “This time we worked to close the gap between planning and construction.”

The Oregon 140 Corridor Plan establishes a number of traffic triggers that use realtime traffic volumes and warrants (a set of criteria which can be used to define the relative need) to select the appropriate project for funding consideration.

22

December 7, 2012

“For example, one improvement would be to expand Blackwell Road from two lanes to three lanes, which provides enough capacity to handle 15,000 vehicles per day,” said Guevara. “As traffic exceeds 18,000 vehicles per day, transportation stakeholders would then look at increasing capacity from three lanes to five lanes.”

The large number of Oregon 140 recommendations resulted from more than 18 months of development work by the project’s Technical Advisory Committee and Citizen Advisory Committee.

The two groups are comprised of private and public transportation stakeholders, including Jackson County, the City of Central Point, Amy’s Kitchen Inc., Biomass One and the Rogue Valley Transportation District.

Currently on schedule for completion in April 2013, the Oregon 140 Corridor Plan will advance forward for adoption by the Oregon Transportation Commission.

All 19 recommended improvements are categorized to meet the agency’s new Enhance and Fix-It designations within the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, Oregon’s four-year transportation capital improvement program. The Fix-It category includes projects that fix or preserve the transportation system; the Enhance category includes projects that enhance, expand, or improve the transportation system.

“All of our corridor plans are developed with a 20-year planning horizon,” Guevara said. “The Oregon 140 Corridor Plan is unique because the triggers we incorporated make identifying and prioritizing funding for projects much easier.”

odotmovingahead.com

CENTRAL POINT INTERCHANGE

STUDY NEARS COMPLETION

The two-year study of the Central Point interchange (Interstate 5, exit 33) is expected to be adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission in spring 2013, according to ODOT Project Manager Allie Krull.

•

Adding dual right-turn lanes on the northbound I-5 off-ramp;

•

Adding dual left-turn lanes on the southbound I-5 on-ramp;

•

Adding dual left-turn lanes on East Pine Street for Freeman Road; and

The Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) helps guide future development near the Central Point interchange area. The IAMP develops preferred alternatives and proposed access control measures with the help of local transportation stakeholders. These measures are designed to improve safety and capacity over the next 20 years.

•

Adding bicycle and pedestrian improvements to the I-5 exit 33 overpass.

“What stands out about each of the four recommended improvements is that each one is relatively affordable,” Krull said. “Central Point stands to get a lot of bang for their buck with each project.”

“The IAMP evaluates the operation of the Central Point interchange and determines if there are any areas of concern, now or in the future,” said Krull. “The plan also identifies long-term needs based on planned development in the area.”

Plan development included a technical advisory committee consisting of representatives from Central Point, Jackson County and the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Once the plan is finalized it goes before the city and county for adoption.

A public open house was held in November at the Central Point City Council Chambers. The presentation illustrated four major concepts that together total $5 million in improvements:

“While there is no funding currently allocated for the transportation improvements identified in this IAMP, the completion of the plan itself brings these concepts much closer to reality,” said Krull.

Got a question?

Viewers are invited to call in and ask transportation-related questions during Moving Ahead with ODOT, the agency’s TV talk show that broadcasts live Thursday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. on Rogue Valley Community Television (RVTV) government channels in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Viewers can participate via the callin number: (541) 552-6079. The program can also be viewed online at www.roguetv.org. RVTV manages Southern Oregon’s first Public, Education, and Government Access channels.

Call ODOT live Dec. 13

ODOT Public Information Officer Gary Leaming serves as the program’s host. Each one-hour episode features guests from local and state agencies as well as updates on construction projects in the Rogue Valley.

The program debuted in July 1999. A new episode is live on the second Thursday of each month, rebroadcasting regularly on RVTV channels over the month. Rebroadcast dates and times are available on the RVTV website: www.roguetv.org.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

23

Rehabilitation project BRINGS HISTORIC BRIDGE BACK The Mill Creek Drive Bridge near Prospect hadn’t been the same since the state highway department bypassed the bridge in 1963 in favor of a new route for the Crater Lake Highway (Oregon 62).

The U.S. Bureau of Public Roads built the 157-foot structure at the ‘Avenue of the Boulders’ — where the North Fork of the Rogue River falls abruptly into the gorge — using a design created by Oregon’s famed bridge designer Conde McCullough.

The $1.4 million rehabilitation project on the Jackson County-owned bridge began in June 2012 with Hamilton Construction of Eugene as the prime contractor. Designed and administered

by ODOT, the project slightly widened the bridge, replaced the old concrete rail and bridge deck, and added rock retaining walls to each approach, with ornamental lighted street poles that had gone missing from the original bridge.

The bridge was built in 1923, when the average automobile cost $393, when President Warren G. Harding resided in the White House and when the Crater Lake National Park began attracting automobile tourists from across the country.

24

December 7, 2012

odotmovingahead.com

“McCullough designed the bridge and, looking at its graceful arch design, you can see his influence so apparent on his other bridges throughout Oregon,” said Jackson County Roads and Parks Manager John Vial. “For some reason, McCullough’s original design was shelved by the state until it was picked up, modified a bit, and built by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads.”

The Mill Creek Drive Bridge became functionally obsolete, too narrow for traffic, well before it was bypassed in 1963. White metal guardrail had been scabbed onto the deteriorating concrete rail years ago to keep motorists from crashing through the rail to the boulders and river below.

Prior to construction, Jackson County did extensive outreach in the Prospect community and with Upper Rogue tourism-based businesses. The collective response to the rehabilitation project has been very good.

“This bridge is spectacular,” said Fred Wickman, owner of the historic Prospect Hotel. “We’re excited to have it back. You just don’t see them like this anymore.”

Oregon’s Master Bridge Builder Conde B. McCullough [1887-1946] arrived in Oregon in 1916 to teach engineering at Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University). He was among a new breed of college-educated engineers, and a pioneer of the movement

to create a well-planned American highway system. Beginning in the early 1900s, McCullough argued that bridges should be built efficiently, economically, and aesthetically.

He became Oregon’s state bridge engineer in 1919 and initiated creation of hundreds of custom designed spans characterized by architectural elegance.

His legacy of beautiful bridges lives today and most of his bridges are considered significant landmarks.

A quick smartphone scan will take you to historical photographs of Oregon bridges and the people who built them, including a picture of the first highway bond issued in Oregon (Jackson County for $1,000 in 1913) at the ODOT History Center.

odotmovingahead.com

December 7, 2012

25

Southern Oregon’s First Bike Signal

Lights in Ashland Engineer Gary Obery. “Bicyclists and drivers in Ashland need to be aware of this new signal, especially since it’s the first one in southern Oregon.”

The first bicycle signal installed in southern Oregon is just one of the new features built into Ashland’s new Interstate 5 exit 14 interchange.

“Bike lanes and sidewalks were sorely needed at the overcrossing,” said ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon, “and this project recognized that need.”

The 1960s-era bridge had been designed with just enough width to allow two vehicles to pass. Ashland’s growing population and development on both sides of I-5 necessitated a safer crossing for the community.

The Ashland Transportation Commission suggested the addition of a bicycle signal and ODOT’s state traffic engineer approved it. The Federal Highway Administration is monitoring the signal and how it functions within the interchange.

A video detection system measures bike and motorized traffic.

ODOT Traffic Engineer Dan Dorrell and Jackson County Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator Jenna Stanke reached out to local cyclists and bike shops last October, answering questions about the new signal. ODOT also produced a short instructional video that’s available on YouTube.

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, seven are currently under construction and another 264 have been completed and open to traffic. By the end of 2013, all but one project will be open to traffic.

Bicyclists traveling east on Ashland Street toward the I-5 bridge now have a dedicated bike lane and signal prior to the southbound on-ramp.

When the bike signal is green, all turning vehicles must stop. Conversely, when the bike signal is red, cyclists need to stop, allowing vehicles to turn right or left onto the southbound I-5 ramp.

OTIA III is the third Oregon Transportation Investment Act. The $2.46 billion package allocates $1.3 billion to the bridge program and $1.16 billion to fund county and city maintenance projects, local bridge repair and replacement work, and modernization projects statewide.

Through 2011, the bridge program has sustained more than 17,000 jobs. Overall, the program will create or sustain approximately 23,000 jobs.

“This signal is being successfully used in Portland, Eugene and, most recently, Salem,” said ODOT Traffic

26

December 7, 2012

odotmovingahead.com