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Since You Asked: Creek work will strengthen I-5 columns Friday Aug 19, 2016 at 12:01 AM What is going on under the I-5 overpass at Bear Creek near the Biddle Road bike path entrances? It looks like they've rerouted the creek. — B.J., Medford Your observation skills are on point, B. Crews at the scene have rerouted the creek at the site, but it's only temporary. Jeremiah Griffin, assistant district manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, tells us the work you see that necessitated that reroute is called a bridge scour repair. "It's basically strengthening around the columns that are there in the creek bed and by the bike path," Griffin says. Workers are using rocks and boulders to do so, arranging them around the columns so they are stronger during high water and flooding events. "It's basically meant to protect those columns," he says. Crews have also done some cleanup work along the bike path. This is the time of year to do this kind of work, because the water flow is lower and allows workers better access. When the project is complete, it'll be back to normal, Griffin says. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.