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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 24, 2004 ODOT favors Highland to take I-5 motorists By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The state is one step closer to building a much-contested freeway interchange in south Medford. The state transportation agency on Monday released its final environmental impact statement on the south Medford interchange project. The document for the first time says officially that the state wants to connect the interchange to Highland Drive, an alternative some neighbors have opposed. Construction on the $52.7 million project is scheduled to begin in 2006. "The problem that we have is one of safety and congestion in that area," said Gary Leaming, project information specialist for the Oregon Department of Transportation. He described the impact statement as a thorough document that explains why Highland is the best choice for the connection. Advertisement The proposed interchange project will relocate the Barnett Road interchange to the south while providing upgrades to Barnett Road, a major east-west arterial street. Leaming said the Highland alternative was chosen because it has less impact on the neighborhood and environment and is less expensive than any other —except for not rebuilding the interchange. Some area residents have complained the project will dump freeway traffic onto Highland Drive and neighborhoods to the north. Medford resident John Pearson is among those who have been outspoken in opposition to the project. Pearson declined to comment Monday, saying he had just received a copy of the impact statement and had not had a chance to review it. The document identifies and describes potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures of proposed improvements to the south Medford interchange. It also updates the draft document, released in October 2001, and provides responses to public and agency comments received about the draft statement. More than 20 alternative solutions were reviewed, including the "no build" alternative, said Leaming. Greg Holtoff, environmental project manager with ODOTs office in Salem, said at this point all comments go to the Federal Highway Administration, which will make the final decision in about a month. The public comment period on the project is closed, but opponents still could file objections with the FHA. Holtoff said it’s fairly unlikely that would shake things up so much that the project plans would come undone, and he expects ODOT will soon begin right-of-way acquisition and design. "We did our best to make sure there’s no unresolved issues," he said. Copies of the impact statements are available at the Medford Public Library, the Medford Planning Department and Public Works Department, the Rogue Valley Council of Governments office in Central Point and the ODOT in White City. They are also available at www.smedfordinterchange.org onthe Web. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times