ODOT Moving Ahead - November 2010

Ready for a safe trip?

Winter Travel

Oregon

2010

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November

Department of Transportation A Mail Tribune Advertising Department publication

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ON OUR COVER ODOT Maintenance Manager Everett Carroll and fashion model Alicia Johnson illustrate the importance for safe winter travel.

INSIDE COVER Crews work to lower Interstate 5 as much as two and a half feet beneath the Ashland exit 14 bridge to meet today’s clearance standards.

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Rock Point Bridge

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Winter Travel

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OTC Commissioner David Lohman

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Community celebrates historic bridge rehabilitation

ODOT Maintenance crews rise to the challenge

ConnectOregon grants benefit Southern Oregon

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

CONTRIBUTORS Kristine DeVries Publication Supervisor

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

Bret Jackson Graphic Design

ADVERTISING Dena DeRose, (541) 776-4439 dderose@mailtribune.com For information on advertising in this publication please contact Patti Phillips-Kahn (541) 776-4446 pphillips-kahn@dailytidings.com

April 23, 2011

Steve Johnson Photography Jyll Smith Writing

Water Street Bridge Project will fix bridge near Ashland Plaza

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.

Sally Ridenour Editing Shelley Snow Editing odotmovingahead.com ODOTMOVINGAHEAD.COM

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Medford Airport introduces Anyone living in the Rogue Valley through winter should be familiar with our fifth season, known as fog. This season usually shows up in mid-November and can last through February. For decades, when encountered with this atmospheric malady, the Medford airport (MFR) has incorporated cloud seeding to help open up the skies in an effort to modify weather conditions and minimize the impact to commercial flights.

In 2009, this practice was discontinued due to increased safety concerns for crew conducting the mission.

In early 2010, airport staff members began working together to create a safer alternative. The result is CASPER. Not the friendly ghost type, although there is some resemblance.

CASPER, short for “cable attached system providing effective release,” was fabricated in the airport operation’s shop. The mechanism works in similar function to a fertilizer spreader and will disperse dry ice particles over an approximate 60-foot radius (broader as the balloon rises). The mechanism is attached to an 18-foot balloon filled with helium, which in turn is tethered to a maintenance vehicle.

The cable line operates on a wench and has a 700-foot capacity; however, staff believes 500 feet should be sufficient to

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CASPER

get above the fog layer. After deploying CASPER to altitude, personnel will initiate the mechanism using a remote control and begin driving along the runway while the dry ice is being dispersed.

So far, in field trials conducted throughout last summer, CASPER has performed as anticipated. The true test in effectiveness will be determined once the fog season arrives. On principle however, CASPER should have as positive an effect as aircraft had in the past. The turnaround time to refill the disperser and re-dispatch is less than that of an aircraft. Already, it is much safer, and will hover close to the same distance as aircraft travel when on approach.

Runway closures will be in effect when this system is being utilized. As with successful cloud seeding, temperature conditions must be at freezing or below.

Fog develops when cooler air particles containing moisture come in contact with warmer temperatures coming off the ground creating the effect of dense, low-lying clouds. The diminished visibility can wreak havoc on arriving and departing flights. The airport has incorporated some of the latest technology, including end pavement high intensity runway lighting and an instrument landing approach system.

FERN VALLEY INTERCHANGE PROJECT receives public comment North Phoenix Through design

The opportunity to comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Fern Valley Interchange project runs through Tuesday, November 16.

The Draft EA evaluates the “North Phoenix Through” design alternative and the no-build option. Public comments are included and addressed in the Revised EA. The Interstate 5 interchange (exit 24) experiences traffic congestion throughout the day, especially during morning and afternoon commutes. New and proposed development on 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 hosted an open house and public hearing at Phoenix High School on November 3.

“We are receiving a lot of public input,” said ODOT Project Leader Dick Leever.

“It is excellent to see the community take an active interest in developing transportation solutions.”

The project’s design phase started in 2004. The “Fern Valley Through” design alternative was eliminated in 2009 because it would have an adverse impact on nearby farm land.

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

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 to construct an interchange of this design in the United States.

The Draft EA is posted online on the project web site: www.oregon.gov/ ODOT/HWY/REGION3/fvi_index.shtml. and is available for review at the following locations: • Phoenix City Hall, 112 W. 2nd • Phoenix Public Works and Shops, 1000 S. B Street • Phoenix/Jackson Co. Library, 510 W. 1st, Phoenix • Medford/Jackson Co. Library, 205 S. Central, Medford • RVCOG, 155 N. 1st, Central Point • ODOT District Office, 100 Antelope Rd., White City

The $73 million Fern Valley interchange project could be constructed using a odotmovingahead.com

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Avoid driving headaches this holiday season. Spend more time celebrating with family and friends and less time on the road.

and gas money. Before heading out the door, take some time to think about where you need to go and plan out the most efficient route.

You’ll save wear and tear on you, your family and your wallet!

• Shop online. Take advantage of retail websites and buy gifts online. Also use the Internet to check out gift possibilities and prices before heading to the store.

• Plan ahead. Decide in advance what recipes to make, decorations to buy and supplies to get. Keep recipes and coupons in one place so you’ll have them on the go.

• Just like Santa, make a list and check it twice. Avoid all those extra and last minute trips. Use list pads, your cell phone or whatever works best for you.

• Shop local. Instead of hitting the highways, visit shops around town. You’ll save money on gas and help support the local economy.

• Combine shopping trips. Try combining your shopping trips to save time

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• Tap into transit. Take the bus, and let someone else do the driving. RVTD services shopping centers throughout the Rogue Valley, including the Rogue Valley Mall every 30 minutes. Use Google to plan your transit trips.

• Carpool. Increase the holiday fun! Carpool to stores and other destinations.

Get more tips at DriveLessSaveMore.com

Community celebrates

Rock Point Bridge rehabilitation Members of four southern Oregon historic car clubs, in their Model A Fords, braved the rain for the ‘official’ crossing to commemorate the reopening of Rock Point Bridge.

A parade of antique cars from throughout the Rogue Valley cruised across the newly rehabilitated Rock Point Bridge, marking the successful completion of the yearlong construction project.

Nearly a hundred people, including Miss Oregon Stephenie Steers, attended the celebration, held at the entrance of Del Rio Vineyard on the rainy, threatening afternoon of October 28.

Rock Point Bridge, a notable feature on the popular Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, reopened in October.

“The success of this project was built upon our teamwork with Wildish Standard Paving and the local businesses and agencies,” said ODOT Area Manager Art Anderson. “We kept our promise to the community while maintaining the bridge’s beauty and making it safe and functional for future generations.”

Originally part of the old Pacific Highway, the historic arched bridge The success of this spans the Rogue River northwest project was built upon of Gold Hill and is our teamwork with a key connector that links InterWildish Standard Paving state 5 traffic to and the local businesses tourism-related businesses like the and agencies.

Del Rio Vineyard and the House of ODOT Area Manager Art Anderson Mystery.

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The Rock Point Bridge was designed by Conde B. McCullough, a pioneer of the movement to create a wellplanned American highway system. McCullough illustrated how form could complement function and the nearby landscape. Using a reinforced concrete deck arch, he designed a 505-foot span bridge over one of the rockiest sections of the Rogue River, hence the name Rock Point.

”

The $3.9 million rehabilitation project targeted the bridge’s damaged deck and side rails as well as cracked concrete beneath the bridge. Prime contractor Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene used rebar-enforced concrete to replace the bridge’s original concrete rails and urn-shaped balusters and applied a new bridge deck to the nearly 90-year old historic structure.

According to Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon, construction was a challenge: “Because of the great depth of water at the bridge location, it was odotmovingahead.com

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Miss Oregon Stephenie Steers cuts the ribbon to officially reopen the Rock Point Bridge, assisted by (L-R) Gold Hill Historical Society President Anita Brown, Gold Hill Mayor Randy ‘Bucky’ Steffen, City Councilors Margaret Dials and Sam Blake, and City Manager Elise Cunningham.

impossible to build falsework under the main arch span. The contractor (Parker and Banfield, Portland) solved the problem by building a temporary wood truss span over the bridge to give support to the forms.”

Difficulties arose during the bridge rehabilitation project when more deterioration was found in the historic bridge than ODOT had anticipated. Part of the cause was incomplete drawings dating from the bridge’s original construction in 1920, adding to the repair delays.

When it became apparent the rehabilitation project would not be completed within the original timeline, ODOT adjusted the project plans to reopen a single lane of traffic for the summer tourism season. ODOT distributed detour maps to local businesses and

placed detour signs in the area to assist drivers traveling back to I-5.

Bridge history

The Rock Point Bridge was unveiled in 1920, a time when Oregon’s paved roads totaled only 620 miles and its designer, McCullough, had barely settled in as Oregon’s state bridge engineer.

McCullough would later go on to leave a legacy of beautiful bridges along Oregon’s coast. Both his trademark aesthetics and efficient, custom-designed spans are present in the Rock Point Bridge.

The bridge’s south approach was replaced in 1953. In 2000, the Rock Point Bridge underwent expedited repair work to strengthen the crossbeams, which lifted a 10,000-pound weight restriction on the span.

Conde B. McCullough McCullough arrived in Oregon in 1916 to teach engineering at Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University). A pioneer of the movement to create a well-planned American highway system, McCullough argued that bridges should be built efficiently, economically, and aesthetically. He became Oregon’s state bridge engineer in 1919.

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

Historical photographs of Oregon bridges are available online at the ODOT History Center: www.oregon.gov/ODOT/CS/BSS/historycenter.shtml.

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Josephine County Traffic Safety Advisory Committee seeks new members The Traffic Safety Advisory Committee is seeking new members to help be the eyes and ears of traffic safety. Beautiful Josephine County has grown steadily; increases in tourism and population mean higher use and greater impact on the transportation system.

The committee members — comprised of representatives from law enforcement, state and county road authority agencies, and concerned citizens — invite you to consider volunteering your time to this important effort. For more information, contact Committee Chair Nora Schwartz, Josephine County Public Works, at (541) 474-5460.

Safety project includes new ‘Welcome to Oregon’ sign A safety project wrapped up on Interstate 5 just north of the Oregon-California border that has installed permanent lights, a TripCheck camera and a new ‘Welcome to Oregon’ sign.

According to ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon, the project placed ten permanent lights at the northbound chain up area to aid motorists. Federal stimulus funded the $257,000 safety project, which also provides electrical conduit that Caltrans can use to power a variable message sign for motorists entering California.

“This was a much needed project for motorist safety,” said Marmon. “We’ve needed lights and power at this location for a long time. The design team did a great job incorporating a new welcoming sign as well as adding a new TripCheck camera into the project.”

Moving Ahead wins ‘Best section cover’ award The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association awarded this publication ‘Best section cover’ as part of the 2010 Best Ad Ideas Contest.

The April 9, 2009 Moving Ahead cover depicts the economic effects of highway construction in Oregon. Competing in the Group A category for publications with a circulation of 20,001 and above, the Mail Tribune edged out the Portland Tribune for the first-place award. Judging was based on tie-in with the section, effective communication of idea, and impact on readers.

The Mail Tribune’s advertising department previously won a first-place ‘Best series’ award in the 2009 contest for the Interstate 5 Rebuild project series. odotmovingahead.com

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O D OT m a i n t e n a n c e c re ws

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 anti-icer, 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.

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

“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 four-wheel drive.”

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.

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.

“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.”

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

“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.

“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.”

In addition to pre-trip recommendations for winter travel, ODOT recommends motorists use these tips before traveling over the Siskiyou Pass: • Dress warmly. Leave the Hawaiian Tshirt 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.

Preparation

• 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 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.

• 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.

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

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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Basics • • • • • • • •

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Your vehicle should be stocked with the following:

Rechargeable flashlight Cell phone and car adaptor Extra food and water Flares Tools: jack, lug wrench, shovel Road maps Blanket/sleeping bag(s) Extra warm clothes, boots, hat and gloves

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• • • • • • • •

First aid kit Pocket knife Matches or lighter Battery jumper cables Ice scraper and snow brush Paper towels Extra washer fluid Chains or traction tires

• A full fuel tank

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 truck-involved crashes resulting in an injury or fatality occur in snowy or icy conditions in Oregon each year.

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 503-588-2941.

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.

• 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.

• Know how to put your chains on.

Practice installing them before your trip.

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.”

• 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.

Chain tips

• More winter safety tips are on ODOT’s website, www.oregon.gov/ODOT/ COMM/winterdriving.shtml

• 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.

• 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 are posted on Oregon’s travel

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)

Chains may be placed on either axle

Chains may be placed on either side Stock no. 320445

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Siskiyou Pass storms focus of annual event When a snowstorm hits Southern Oregon, the ten-mile stretch of Siskiyou Pass on Interstate 5 presents a unique challenge. Due to its altitude and length, Siskiyou Pass has a higher frequency of winter storms than other mountain passes, including the Sexton and Smith Passes in Josephine County.

To prepare for the challenge, ODOT hosts an annual Snowflake meeting in Ashland to provide agencies the opportunity to communicate and review the operational steps that will be used for regular maintenance activities as well as emergency response.

The October 21 Snowflake meeting hosted by ODOT drew more than 30 agency representatives from Oregon State Police, California Highway Patrol, CalTrans, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Red Cross, the American Red Cross, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office as well as city and county emergency service providers, trucking companies and tow operators. This year’s meeting also included a presentation from the National Weather Service.

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“Every winter is a challenge on the Siskiyou Pass,” said ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon. “Snowflake meetings are invaluable because it allows all of the agencies to start from the same page before the winter storms arrive.”

According to Marmon, the agency hosted its first Snowflake coordination meeting for U.S. Highway 199. ODOT and Caltrans met October 19 at the Illinois Valley Rural Fire Protection District office in Cave Junction.

“Snowflake meetings improve our communication with other agencies,” Marmon said. “The better we coordinate, the better we can keep traffic moving.”

The largest snowstorm to hit the Siskiyou Pass in the last 25 years occurred in late December 2003, shutting down Interstate 5 for roughly 18 hours as agencies dug 200-300 vehicles from snow drifts as tall as six feet.

TripCheck.com and 511

Know before you go

ODOT Dispatcher Kelly Carsten monitors state highways from the agency’s center in Central Point.

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 more than 260 cameras statewide.

Cell phones, PDAs

Oregon road condition information is available for cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The new service provides incident information, road closures, traveler services, camera views and more, formatted specifically for the smaller screens of mobile devices.

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 it will return you to the Road Conditions by Highway menu option.

Users simply go to the site on their mobile device, www.TripCheck.com or www.TripCheck.com/mobile. An easy-to-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-ODOT (6368). If you

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. odotmovingahead.com

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ConnectOregon

GRANTS BENEFIT SOUTHERN OREGON

By David Lohman, OTC Commissioner

A few weeks ago, ODOT announced the award of 41 ConnectOregon III grants across the state. From among the 97 initial applications, Jackson and Josephine County received three grants totaling $4.8 million. (Note: these figures do not take into account a special set-aside for competitive ConnectOregon III grants to small airports.) These grants benefit Southwest Oregon in strikingly diverse ways.

One of these grants will enable Mercy Flights, which serves a 150-mile radius area from Medford, to build a new operations center and hangars for its air and ground ambulance services.

The second grant will enable the Rogue Valley Transportation District to build high-capacity infrastructure for compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling of its fleet of buses and the fleets of other private and public entities in the region, as well as individual citizens’ future CNG vehicles.

The third grant will help preserve freeway capacity and reduce freeway maintenance costs by facilitating the transfer of some freight shipments from truck to rail.

The ConnectOregon program was proposed by the Governor and approved

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by the legislature to address some critical problems in Oregon’s transportation system.

First, we don’t have a transportation system. We have a hodgepodge of transportation facilities and equipment.

Some are privately owned and operated; some are publicly owned (by over 300 separate Oregon jurisdictions) and used by both private and public sector transportation service providers.

Second, we don’t have a coherent way of prioritizing transportation projects or services. In large part, this is because there are so many different jurisdictions and transportation service providers (both public and private), each legitimately concerned about its own responsibilities and budget.

Third, we don’t have funding sources flexible enough to allow us to select the most effective ways of addressing the transportation problems we encounter. The gas tax, for example, cannot be used to fund a freight rail project even if it would help conserve highway capacity and postpone future roadway improvement costs.

The ConnectOregon program was launched as a way of addressing these systemic problems. ConnectOregon

got around the problem of inflexible transportation funding sources by using lottery revenues that could be spent on any non-highway transportation project.

The selection processes for the three rounds of ConnectOregon utilized advisory groups made up of transportation stakeholders and regional representatives to select the 172 highest priority multimodal and aviation projects from the 345 applications submitted. The selection process was designed to mostly disregard the multiplicity of owners and providers of transportation facilities and services and to focus instead on cross-jurisdictional, cross-ownership, and crossmodal benefits to particular regions or the state as a whole.

ConnectOregon, however, has been only a stop-gap measure and will face stiff competition in the budget shifting and cutting that will have to occur in the next legislative session.

But ConnectOregon has clearly served as a valuable demonstration project.

Using lottery dollars, it has filled some critical transportation gaps by advancing a few mostly small, high-gain projects that could not have been funded through traditional transportation funding sources. ConnectOregon has also demonstrated that getting the most out of our transportation infrastructure and minimizing its costs to budgets, communities, and natural resources (especially air and water) has to involve rethinking the sources of funding for transportation and using those limited funds more strategically.

ConnectOregon was not designed or funded to stitch the many components and constituents of transportation in Oregon into a truly integrated system.

Achieving such a transportation transformation will require creativity, flexibility and leadership from ODOT staff, the Oregon Transportation Commission, legislators, and the owners, operators, and users of the unsystematic transportation “system” we now have.

About David Lohman Appointed to the Oregon Transportation Commission in January 2008, David Lohman is a lawyer in private practice and a partner in the Medford and Ashland law firm Huycke, O’Connor, Jarvis & Lohman LLP. He served as Director of the Port of Portland’s Policy and Planning Department from 1992 to 2003 and was the Port’s delegate to Metro’s Joint Policy Committee on Transportation. He also served as Deputy Director of the Oregon Economic Development Department from 1987 to 1991.

About the Oregon Transportation Commission Appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate, the five-member Oregon Transportation Commission meets monthly to set state transportation policies and oversee ODOT activities. Commissioners’ compensation is $30 per day for OTC meetings.

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Ashland bridge construction stays busy at exits 14 & 19 Oregon State Bridge Construction crews work on the Ashland exit 19 project.

Construction crews have shifted into winter mode at Ashland’s Interstate 5 exits – exit 14, Green Springs Highway (Oregon 66) and exit 19, North Ashland interchange.

To keep traffic moving and accommodate businesses around exit 19, the existing bridge will remain open and much of the work will be done at night in the area west of I-5 on Valley View Road.

Prime contractor Concrete Enterprises of Stayton is working on the exit 14 bridge project. A crossover detour built last summer allowed crews to begin lowering the I-5 roadbed to meet today’s clearance standards (17.4 feet). Concrete Enterprises expects to complete this stage and return I-5 to its original alignment before winter snows become common on Siskiyou Summit.

“Temperatures are dropping but our contractors are keeping up the pace on both projects,” said ODOT Public Information Specialist Dennis Steers. “Construction work is focusing on the bridge work, which isn’t as weather-dependent as dirt and asphalt work.”

I-5 is being lowered as much as two and a half feet to provide adequate clearance beneath the exit 14 overpass.

At the same time, work is continuing on building the supports for the widened overpass.

Prime contractor Oregon State Bridge Construction of Aumsville is working on the exit 19 bridge project. Crews have been working on the southbound offramp, since the new bridge will be on a slightly different alignment, and making changes to the roadway alignment on the east side of Valley View Road.

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When the exit 14 project is completed, the refurbished bridge will have two travel lanes, a center turn lane, bicycle lanes and sidewalks. Lighting, traffic signals and a short median will also be added.

The bridge at I-5 exit 19 will be entirely replaced with a wider structure. The new bridge will provide two 12-foot travel lanes, a center turn lane, and widened shoulders on a slightly different alignment. The exit 19 bridge design is a simplified version of exit 14. Both interchanges will be painted a light tan color to match their natural surroundings and new landscaping will be included.

“When the two projects are finished, the Ashland exits are going to look

Crews from subcontractor Copeland Construction of Grants Pass compact the foundation that will make up the new exit 19 overpass.

completely different,” Steers said, “The bicycle and pedestrian improvements should really please everyone.”

The two construction projects are scheduled for completion by mid-2012.

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Oregon 62-Owen/Coker Butte project active work zone continues through winter

Construction work will continue on the east side of Oregon 62, as work focuses on building the new Owen Drive intersection.

When finished, drivers will use a new four-way, signalized intersection that connects the shopping center, Owen and Springbrook Drive in east Medford.

“The tie in from Springbrook Drive to Owen and Crater Lake Avenue is now complete,” said City of Medford Project Manager Dennis Hart.

The Oregon 62 Owen-Coker Butte project in northwest Medford will improve safety and traffic flow, and reduce congestion on Crater Lake Highway and Crater Lake Avenue.

Since construction began last summer, prime contractor Knife River Corporation has focused its work primarily on Crater Lake Avenue and Webfoot Drive. The goal this winter is to connect the new intersection. Next spring, the contractor will begin tying in the north portion of the project realigning Coker Butte Road.

The work on the east side of Oregon 62 realigns Crater Lake Avenue. Blue busi-

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ness access signs have been up to notify motorists that both driveways and businesses are open during construction.

“Through the winter, this area will still be an active work zone, so whether drivers are on the avenue or highway, they still need to pay attention,” said Medford City Engineer Larry Beskow.

The two-year project makes the following transportation improvements: • Moves the Cardinal Avenue traffic signal south to the improved Owen Drive, which becomes a four-way intersection; • Limits right turns only at the intersection of Cardinal Avenue and Oregon 62; • Closes the existing Webfoot Road and Coker Butte Road intersections east of Oregon 62; and

• Improves Crater Lake Avenue by moving it farther east from Oregon 62 at both Owen Drive and the new fourway Coker Butte intersection. This will improve the safety of the intersection by removing the frequent conflicts that arise because the intersections are too close to one another.

For more project information visit the City of Medford’s project website: www.ci.medford.or.us/Projects.asp.

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Repair project scheduled for

Ashland’s Water Street Bridge

Ashland’s Water Street Bridge is slated for repairs in 2011. The bridge, which handles northbound traffic on Lithia Way near the Ashland Plaza, needs strengthening and repairs to avoid posting load limits that would keep heavier vehicles, from commercial trucks to fire trucks, off the structure.

“The bridge is 55 years old and, like many things of that age, it needs some work,” said ODOT Project Leader Jayne Randleman.

Last summer, ODOT bridge inspectors examined the bridge and found moderate cracking in the girders and cross beams underneath the bridge as well as the need to strengthen the bridge deck.

“If we don’t fix the bridge, Ashland’s economy will suffer,” Randleman said. “The bridge plays an important Our goal is to reduce role for local construction impacts businesses that need goods and avoid as much of delivered and the Oregon Shakespeare shipped along Festival as possible.

Lithia Way.

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ODOT Project Leader Jayne Randleman

ODOT currently estimates the repair project could take up 12 weeks to

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complete. The project is expected to start in late winter or early spring due to temperature requirements. However, the agency is working with nearby businesses and residents as well as the Ashland Chamber of Commerce to develop a schedule with the least disruption possible, finishing up no later than Memorial Day weekend, the official start of the summer tourism season.

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“Our goal is to reduce construction impacts and avoid as much of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as possible. We understand its importance to the community.”

Earlier this month, ODOT hosted an open house at the nearby Plaza Inn for adjacent businesses and neighbors. The event provided construction information and gauged concerns regarding the work schedule.

The repair project includes drilling and installing about 600 shear anchors into the concrete beams. The drilling phase is the noisiest of the project and necessitates reducing Lithia Way traffic to a single-lane configuration.

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Strengthening projects like this are very common because they extend the life of the bridge with the least cost and disruption to the community.

ODOT Senior Bridge Engineer Bob Grubbs

“The drilling noise is equal to what you would find on a typical, urban street,” said ODOT Senior Bridge Engineer Bob Grubbs. “We’re talking about 90 decibels if you’re standing right next to the work. It is like running a food processor in your kitchen.”

The first stage of the project will occur under the bridge. The contractor will inject an epoxy-based glue in the interior girders and the cross beams. Lithia Way traffic will not be affected. However, this stage will require a week-long closure on Water Street to all vehicles.

The project will then transition to the top of the bridge for about eight weeks, when the asphalt on the bridge

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deck will be removed. Drilling and shear anchor installation will occur next. Finally, the bridge deck will be repaved with asphalt. During these stages, traffic will be limited to a single lane on Lithia Way. “Strengthening projects like this are very common because they extend the life of the bridge with the least cost and disruption to the community,” said Grubbs. “We expect this repair to extend the life of the Water Street Bridge at least another 25 years.”

The rehabilitation project is expected to cost $500,000.