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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 4, 2006 Interchange will cost $70 to $75 million By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune The bill for the new south Medford interchange on Interstate 5 will be between $70 million and $75 million, based on the low bid recently received by state transportation officials. "When we got the bids I was relieved," said Art Anderson, area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. "You never know what the market was like." The low bid for the construction portion of the interchange was $59.6 million from Wildish Standard Paving of Eugene. The same company refurbished the I-5 viaduct in Medford in 2003. Anderson said he hopes to shave a few million dollars off the cost to bring it in line with earlier estimates of $70 million for the entire project, which also includes engineering, design and right-of-way purchases. "We’re working on ways to make up that difference," he said. Advertisement Four years ago ODOT estimated the cost of the interchange at $52 million. Wildish’s bid also includes construction of a portion of the Bear Creek Greenway path, reconstruction of two bridges over Bear Creek and demolition and rebuilding of the existing Barnett Road bridge over Bear Creek. For the portion of the bid that relates directly to the construction of the new interchange, the cost would be $45 million. The two other bids received were $61 million from LTM Inc. of Medford and $62 million from Hamilton Construction Co. of Springfield. Anderson said ODOT expects to award the contract by the middle of April, with construction likely to begin at the end of May. ODOT doesn’t anticipate the project will lead to lengthy traffic delays because the interchange will be a completely new structure, unlike the recent improvements made to the north Medford interchange. While bridges over Bear Creek to the south of Barnett will be rebuilt, temporary structures will be constructed to divert traffic, according to Gary Leaming, project information coordinator for ODOT. Leaming said work on the Barnett Road bridge over Bear Creek will be one of the last parts of the project Wildish takes on. Traffic will be diverted to the new south Medford interchange when that work is under way. ODOT wants to keep as many lanes of I-5 open because it estimated that the economy of the area lost $60,000 for every day that lanes were closed during the viaduct project. The south interchange, located 1,900 feet south of the Barnett Road overpass, could take up to five years to build, but Anderson said he wants to shorten the time, which would also reduce the project’s cost. "Theoretically, the bids say it could take five years, but we’re hoping the contractor can come in at three or 3½ years," he said. ODOT wants to cut the cost further by seeing if other items, such as temporary bridges, could be eliminated. The new interchange will link up Garfield Street to the west of I-5 and with Highland Drive to the east. Nearly 200 trees and stretches of brush near the Bear Creek bridges on I-5 have already been cut down. The new interchange is intended to relieve traffic congestion and safety issues at the current Barnett Road interchange (exit 27) in south Medford. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Interchange will cost $70 to $75 million ">[email protected] . 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. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos GMAT Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement