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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend July 10, 2006 New welcome center proposed By Damian Mann Mail Tribune A permanent welcome center hasn't graced the Oregon-California border for 10 years, so transportation officials have dusted off an old proposal for a rest stop near Ashland. The new $3.5 million welcome and rest center would be located on 16 acres south of the Highway 66 exit on the east side of Interstate 5 and is scheduled to open by August 2009. Because there hasn't been a permanent welcome center for visitors from California for a decade, Tim Fletcher, project manager for the Oregon Department of Transporation, said, "We're going to try to accelerate things where we can." New on- and off-ramps would be built to handle northbound travelers, and the project would feature a visitor information building, bathroom facilities and a walking area. Because the new facility would only allow passenger vehicles, another rest area is being planned for truckers at the Ashland port of entry off Interstate 5. The existing Phoenix rest stop would continue to serve southbound motorists. ODOT had been working with a private developer who wanted to build the rest stop off Valley View Road at exit 19. But Fletcher said the project got bogged down because of difficulty in designing access to the already heavily used road. Both ODOT and the Oregon Travel Information Council had tentatively chosen that project out of four proposed in 2004. A temporary welcome center was created two years ago in a small office attached to the Econo Lodge at 60 Lowe Road, off Valley View Road. The center receives about 12,000 visitors annually. A welcome center at Siskiyou Summit, which received more than 40,000 visitors a year, was closed in 1996 because of safety concerns. ODOT had earlier looked at building the new center south of exit 14, but had backed off because of higher than expected planning costs. With the exit 19 proposal off the table, Fletcher said ODOT decided to look again at the 16-acre property purchased from Dom Provost. Fletcher said ODOT hopes it can clear all the planning hurdles with Jackson County by 2007. Chuck Kenney, who was one of the developers hoping to build the welcome center off Valley View Road, said ODOT wasn't able to provide the necessary street improvements to provide access to the property. While there are no new plans in the works for the land, Kenney said he hopes that something gets built somewhere to help attract visitors. "The state of Oregon needs a welcoming center in the south of Oregon," he said. "I hope they get a great one." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Casino Reviews