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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 11, 2006 An LTM crew works on curbs, gutters and sidewalks on Biddle Road under the Highway 62 overpass Monday as part of the north Medford interchange project. The project�s contractor, James W. Fowler Co., has moved the completion date to June. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Interchange woes Contractor faces penalties due to eight-month delay By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The contractor for the new north Medford interchange faces penalties that could total nearly half a million dollars for being eight months behind schedule. James W. Fowler Co. of Dallas has delayed the completion date from Oct. 31 to the end of June. The delay has been caused partly by winter weather and partly by internal issues within Fowler, said Art Anderson, area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. "Fowler’s had some shifts within their own management team on this project," said Anderson. But City Councilman Jason Anderson, who chastised ODOT officials at Thursday’s City Council meeting over the unfinished interchange, said the project needs to move faster. Advertisement "It’s certainly disappointing that it’s taken this long to complete this project," he said on Monday. "Especially when you don’t see people out there working." The councilman said the north interchange is confusing for drivers to navigate. "It’s not properly signed. It’s not properly striped," he said. Rod Witham, owner of Witham Truck Center on Biddle Road, said he hears complaints from truck drivers and restaurant customers "about a hundred times a day" that it’s confusing to enter his business with the ongoing construction. But Witham admits he hasn’t supported the project from the start, saying the new interchange may be easier on freeway and highway travelers but not on local traffic. He said residents may not realize that yet. "After it’s all done it may become clear," said Witham. But Councilman Anderson disagrees. "I think the new interchange is great," he said. It’s too soon to talk about Fowler’s total damages, said ODOT officials, because a contractor’s penalty is determined after a project is complete. "We go back and iron out differences we may have," said Art Anderson of ODOT. The contract between ODOT and Fowler allows the state to assess a penalty of $2,000 per day (including Saturdays and Sundays) if missed deadlines are the contractor's fault. "They can work Saturdays and Sundays if they have to," he said. He said he did not want to speculate on Fowler’s penalties, but added they could be substantially lower than the worst-case scenario of $480,000. Construction on the $36 million ODOT project, which began in February 2004, was roughly 90 percent complete by its Oct. 31 deadline. Ramps to carry traffic between Interstate 5 and Highway 62 were open and the Highway 62 overpass was repaved. Remaining work includes repaving Biddle Road through the project area, landscaping and striping some lanes — all of which are weather-dependent. ODOT’s Anderson said a penalty doesn’t mean money is saved on the project. "It goes back into the ODOT treasury," he said. "We don’t see it directly." Representatives from Fowler Co. did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment Monday. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Interchange woes ">[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 Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement