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3 options backed for south I-5 exit By PETER WONG A panel of citizens has agreed that a closer look should be given to three of the seven alternatives proposed to relieve traffic congestion at south Medford's freeway interchange. None of the three involves increased use of north-south streets in southeast Medford, a proposed east Medford beltway, or realignment of Barnett Road and Stewart Avenue where they intersect Interstate 5. The first is controversial; the others potentially costly and complex. The 16-member citizens advisory committee favored the same three alternatives as Jim Hanks, a traffic engineer from Eugene who is assisting the Oregon Department of Transportation on the south interchange project. With 33,000 cars and trucks passing through it daily, the interchange is considered Medford's worst traffic bottleneck. Hanks said projected traffic for some alternatives, including heavier use of north-south streets in southeast Medford, may worsen traffic in 20 years. "Because of our results, it may make some of the people in the audience a little less concerned," Hanks said. Residents of Groveland Avenue have been vocal in their opposition to heavier use of north-south streets such as theirs. John Morrison, citizen involvement manager who works for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, said the ODOT solutions team will hear a presentation about all seven alternatives. That presentation is scheduled for a team meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the ODOT district offices at 200 Antelope Road, White City. Morrison said the solutions team, not the citizens advisory committee, will decide which of the seven alternatives will get a closer look as part of an environmental impact statement for the project. But he said the recommendations by the citizens advisory committee will be taken into account. One recommended alternative would move the interchange south from Barnett Road, realign it as a "single-point interchange" where one traffic signal would control traffic on two ramps, and link it with a new east-west street connecting Garfield Road in southwest Medford and Ellendale Drive in southeast Medford. A second recommended alternative is similar to the one described above, except the new east-west street would connect Garfield Road with Highland Drive in southeast Medford. A third alternative would require the westward extension of Alba Drive across Interstate 5, parallel to Barnett Road, and connect it with Riverside Avenue. Alba would be one-way westbound, Barnett one-way eastbound, and the I-5 ramps would be realigned. At least two alternatives, plus the long-term consequences of a decision not to build any improvements at the south interchange, must be part of the study. The choices will be narrowed by May, and a draft of the study will be released in November. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA