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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... Mail Tribune garners 11 first-place wins at ONPA ... Two wheels to freedom: Phoenix camp helps kids with disabilities learn to ride ... Rocker's old house vaults Williams into the spotlight ... Mail Tribune garners 11 first-place wins at ONPA ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Is Medford intersection work done already? Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 20, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 20, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News One minute the streets around Fourth Street and Central are torn up, and the next minute everything’s back to normal. That seemed like a pretty fast project for Medford. It looks like everything is pretty much done. The sidewalks are in and the traffic lights are working. I don’t see a huge difference over what it was before, so is this project finished? — Dave S., Medford You’re right, Dave, that intersection was pretty torn up for a while, and then like magic, it suddenly seemed to be finished. The project was something the Medford City Council desperately wanted to complete for a long time and originally it was conceived of as a gateway into the downtown. Knife River Materials began construction in September and was the low bidder for the construction portion of the project at $657,687. The city had budgeted $1.7 million for engineering, design, right-of-way and work. The Shoes Right Here store was moved about a block away on Fourth Street, and its old building was demolished. Most of the major work has been completed as you observed. The contractor removed old, outdated traffic lights and a controller and installed newer versions. “They did an excellent job putting up the new signal poles while the old signal poles were in place,” said Cory Crebbin, Medford public works director. When the contractor flipped the switch for the new lights, everything worked immediately, he said. While most work has been completed, there are still a few minor items that will be addressed. “You will probably see work crews out there for a little while longer,” Crebbin said. The contractor was awarded the bid in July, but work couldn’t begin until late September because the decorative traffic lights took longer than expected to order, Crebbin said. Still, most of the work was done within about a two-month period, he said. The contractor improved the turn lanes, installed new sidewalks and added decorative street lights and trees. Wide sidewalks that traverse much of the downtown were added along portions of Central and on Fourth. On the southeast and southwest corners of Fourth and Central, the sidewalks at the crosswalks will jut slightly out into the street to make it safer for pedestrians, which is a common arrangement in the downtown. Bike lanes also have been installed. The new sidewalks are similar to those at the new Pear Blossom Park just to the east off Fourth Street. You may not see a huge difference, Dave, but there’s a lot of new infrastructure at that intersection. 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]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 20, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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