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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 21, 2005 This aerial photo shows what the south Medford interchange looks like today, with Barnett Road in the middle of the photo and Fred Meyer just above it on the right. The new interchange will be located just south of the existing interchange. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Sky High: As the price tag for building the south Medford interchange soars, ‘sticker shock’ settles in By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Defending an almost 50 percent price hike for the new south Medford interchange, transportation officials point to unexpected expenses, spikes in material costs and added features to the project. Still unresolved are the costs of purchasing rights of way, which could push the tab up to $75 million or more from the $52 million estimated three years ago. "Most probably there is going to be an increase in right-of-way costs," said Art Anderson, area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Even with questions about real estate acquisitions aside, ODOT estimates the interchange tab is currently about $70 million. In the late ’90s, transportation officials thought the interchange would run about $30 million, based on a different design that would have required more land purchases. Advertisement In 2002, ODOT proposed an elevated interchange design that would require less right of way, and pegged the project at $52 million. Since then another $18.6 million has been added to the estimate, and ODOT is bracing for more potential increases . "We’re in a real tumultuous time," said Anderson. "We wouldn’t have this conversation three or four years ago." Transportation officials are scrambling to find a way to make up the extra money before the project goes out to bid in February or March 2006. They might sell seven to eight acres around the existing Barnett Road interchange, which will be demolished, raising $3 million to $5 million. They are discussing delaying other road projects in Jackson County to help make up the difference. They also will look at other revenue sources, including picking up any savings from road projects throughout the state. ODOT estimates temporary bridges, designed to keep traffic flowing during construction and to aid in building the project, will cost $5.9 million, the single biggest unexpected cost. The necessity for these bridges came to light once engineers had a better idea of the traffic bottlenecks that the project would create. Rising costs for materials such as fuel, concrete, steel and asphalt are the next biggest increase at $5.2 million. After engineers further refined the project, they discovered it needed more retaining walls, better lighting and more signs to direct traffic, racking up another $3.9 million. Anderson said engineers discovered that utilities, such as high-voltage lines, would have to be moved, adding another $2 million. ODOT lost many of its engineers several years ago during a decentralization effort, and the remaining engineers have been busy renovating bridges throughout the state. As a result, ODOT outsourced work to engineers to design the interchange’s bridges at a cost of $1.6 million. With the potential for costs to increase further, Anderson said he will be informing the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation to expect an extra $18.6 million to $25 million will be needed. RVACT helps prioritize and assess projects in the area. RVACT Chairman Mike Montero said people will be frustrated by the sticker shock, but added, "If it is a logical explanation, most people will be accepting." The higher cost and the extra work needed for the interchange don’t surprise Montero, a local developer. "I’ve seen these temporary bridge issues come up before," he said. "You’ve got to satisfy the regulatory part of it, and the environmental side. I’m amazed at how much expense is involved to comply with regulations." Montero noted that the project is being built around Bear Creek. Citing one cost that builders face, he said, the fences that prevent silt from running off projects into streams or wetlands can cost $1,000 for a 50-foot-by-100-foot lot. Montero said ODOT is an easy target for criticism and there may be lingering hard feelings from a time when there was a scarcity of road projects. "We’ve begged for projects," he said. "But when you pound the stakes in the ground there are always people who say, ‘Why didn’t you do this?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do that?’" John Newell, east Medford neighbor who has been critical of the interchange plan, said that despite his opposition he isn’t surprised that costs have increased. "It’s gone up and it’s to be expected," said Newell. But he’s hoping it will force ODOT to abandon plans for the interchange. "Maybe now they will put it in a box and just forget it," he said. Instead, he suggests spending the money to improve the existing Barnett Road interchange and put a new one in at South Stage Road to help relieve congestion in a proposed development in southeast Medford. ODOT officials say the project underwent extensive environmental review, including consideration of the South Stage option. The project got the green light from the federal government last year. Anderson said the Barnett Road area is already experiencing traffic problems and will only get worse as the area grows. "The south Medford interchange is crucial to the growth and development of the area," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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