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| Online news for Grants Pass, Oregon | |
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In the letter dated May 23, 2006, Frasher wrote: "The current situation on Redwood Highway presents a terrific opportunity for the City and ODOT to consider potential lasting benefits of converting from 'expressway' to 'boulevard' thinking." At a joint meeting of the Grants Pass City Council and the Urban Area Planning Commission (UAPC) on May 10, 2006, one of the Redwood Area growth-related problems mentioned was the installation of a median by ODOT that prevents left turns from Willow Lane onto Hwy. 199. The median diverts traffic onto Redwood Avenue that previously would access Hwy. 199 at Willow Lane. At the meeting Frasher expressed concerns about a highway with an "expressway" designation going through a high density rural area. According to the 1999 Oregon Highway Plan an "expressway" classification provides for "high speed, high volume travel between cities and connections to ports and major recreation areas with minimal interruptions. A secondary function is to provide for long distance intra-urban travel in metropolitan areas." The plan goes on to say: "In urban areas, speeds are moderate to high. In rural areas, speeds are high." A six and one-half mile section of Hwy. 199 between the South-Y in Grants Pass and the Applegate Creek Bridge was designated as an expressway by ODOT in the summer of 2000. An ODOT document says the classification occurred "after consultation or agreement by affected local governments." In August 2005 an amendment to the Oregon Highway Plan known as the "Grants Pass Expressway Extension" was proposed. The amendment added an expressway "spur" on Hwy. 199 from the South-Y to I-5 Exit 55. In a letter to the City of Grants Pass on July 19, 2005, ODOT said that the goal was to create a "freight route" designation on Hwy. 199 from I-5 to the Oregon/California border. An ODOT staff report said this about the expressway extension amendment: "ODOT Region 3 has made an effort to consult with the City of Grants Pass on this matter. The City did not provide input on the freight route designation (FRAP) process and did not respond to several requests for consultation on the expressway designation." The Oregon Transportation Commission adopted the expressway extension spur unanimously on that date. Since early 2005, ODOT has been working on the Hwy. 199 Expressway Project which includes a study corridor from Tussey Lane to Midway Avenue. The project is intended to reduce congestion and increase safety along the Hwy. 199 corridor. According to ODOT this section of Hwy. 199 is "one of the most dangerous highways in Josephine County." The project includes plans to remove traffic signals along Hwy. 199 at Redwood Avenue and in front of the Fairgrounds. The median at Willow Lane was also part of this project. Plans for a proposed frontage road on the north side of Hwy. 199 were postponed following a compromise between the City and ODOT to delay construction pending an environmental impact study not expected to be completed until 2009 or later. ODOT is studying alternatives to the frontage road. Upcoming ODOT meetings open to the public: The next Citizens Advisory Committee meeting for the Hwy. 199 Expressway Project will be held Thursday, June 8, 6 pm - 8:30 pm, in the RCC Board Room at 3345 Redwood Highway, Grants Pass. The next Project Development Team meeting for the Hwy. 199 Expressway Project will be held Friday, June 9, 9am-11:30 pm, in the RCC Board Room at 3345 Redwood Highway, Grants Pass. On the net: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/h199e_index.shtml Reach reporter Tim Burleson at 761-0195 or tim@grantspassclimate.com Copyright © 2006 Grants Pass Climate Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums.
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