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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend June 10, 2006 Proposed bridge over I-5 gets cool reception By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — A proposed pedestrian bridge over Interstate 5 to link the city's west side with the Jackson County Expo grounds has drawn a tepid response from city residents. Fewer than two dozen people came to an open house Thursday where four potential designs for a pedestrian bridge were unveiled, and a telephone survey of 400 city residents conducted by Rogue Valley Council of Governments indicated only about one in three supports the proposal. Despite the small crowd at the open house, Dick Converse, principal planner for RVCOG, called the event a success. He said the biggest concerns people expressed were the cost of the bridge and its effects on neighborhoods where it could eventually be built. Interest in a pedestrian bridge heightened in 2001 after a 9-year-old boy died trying to cross the freeway on foot. State Rep. Dennis Richardson R-Central Point worked to have $4 million appropriated for a pedestrian and bike bridge. Three sites for a bridge are being considered: one near 10th and Hazel streets; a second near Jewett Elementary School; and a third on East Pine Street. The 10th and Hazel site and the Jewett School site would have a free-standing pedestrian bridge. Two different designs have been proposed for the Pine Street site. One would add a lane for pedestrians and bikes to the existing bridge; the other would add a new bridge that would provide bike and pedestrian access. City officials commissioned the phone survey last week to gauge support for the bridge. Of the 369 people who responded, 35 percent approved; 47 percent were not in favor; and 18 percent were undecided. The site at 10th and Hazel streets, near Community Bible Church, drew criticism from Janene Olson, director at Sonshine Early Learning Center, operated within the church. Olson said the bridge option near Hazel would put her childcare facility out of business because it would occupy some of the park and playground space that's required by law. "Our park and playground, which is required by the state, is at a point where they want to place one end of the bridge in the design option for Hazel," she said. "The state requires that I have 35 square feet in parking and playground space per child," she said. "This would shut us down." Olson agreed, however, that a pedestrian bridge could prove beneficial. "The money is already appropriated apparently, and I believe we need safer pedestrian and bike access. I'm concerned about Crater students who run over Upton Road, but that bridge will be widened by 2007 with pedestrian and bike lanes. "I'd love to see them finish Upton Road before they decide if they still need this bridge." Of the four designs, RVCOG's assesment shows the Hazel and Jewett options would most improve bike and pedestrian safety and connect directly with the amphitheater and Fun Center. The assesment also shows that the two East Pine Street options would create some conflict with traffic and require pedestrians to walk a longer distance to reach the fairgrounds. Vicki Guarino, RVCOG's manager for the project, said last week the bridge was funded and ready to move forward, but only if the community supported the idea. Bridge or no bridge, Community Bible Church member Larry Cannady said he'd like to see existing roads repaired before a new pedestrian bridge goes in. "I can see there's a problem getting over the freeway, but they've got Pine and Upton they could fix," he noted. Rep. Richardson said he would push for the project only if he felt the community supported the plan. "My position is I'm not advocating it nor detracting it," he said Friday. "I merely felt it was a good idea for Central Point, but that it should only go through if the citizens of Central Point want it to." Guarino said feedback from the survey, open house and interviews within the city would be combined with price estimates and proposed design alternatives. The information will be provided to the city of Central Point, which is set to revise its transportation system plan. City officials could decide to include the bridge as part of the plan, or leave it out. For project details or maps, contact Guarino, 664-6674. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [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. 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