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Grape street revamping under way Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Grade checker Richard Rich of Taylor Site Development walks across what will be a new stretch of 13th Street between Grape and Fir streets near Sabroso. A state grant is paying for the $203,809 project, which will permanently close Grape Street between Monroe and 13th streets. The closure will allow Sabroso to expand and prevent the company�s bustling warehouse operations from interfering with street traffic. Grape Street will be a bit shorter and safer, thanks to work already under way to steer downtown traffic away from the bustling Sabroso warehouse at 13th Street. Workers are grading a former alley between Grape and Fir streets to create what will be an "s" curve. The change will divert traffic to Fir from Grape, which often is crisscrossed with forklift traffic between Sabroso�s warehouses. Once the project is complete � estimated for April 16 � Grape Street will be closed permanently between 13th and Monroe streets, said Bob Deuel, Medford city engineer. "When we vacate the property (Grape Street)... it reverts back to the adjoining property owners," which means Sabroso will assume ownership of the property, Deuel said. The Oregon Department of Transportation is paying for the project. Deuel said the contractor, Taylor Site Development, is being paid $103,809 for the roadwork. Property needed for the new road�s right-of-way cost $100,000, including closing costs. Deuel said the grant was limited to no more than $330,000. The new road, 300 feet long and 36 feet wide with sidewalks on both sides and trees on the north side, will be known as 13th Street. The only other stretch of road known as 13th Street in Medford is two blocks to the east, running between Front Street and Riverside Avenue. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.