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Concert traffic jam spurs search for a solution By Joanna Collins Concertgoers were angered and delayed Tuesday when a line of cars headed for the Bob Dylan show at the Jackson County Expo backed a mile-and-a-half onto Interstate 5. The backup at the Central Point exit delayed Deadheads and Dylan fans for up to an hour, causing many to be late for the 7 p.m. show. The Tuesday traffic trouble also raised questions about traffic at future Expo Park events, since county fair officials want to build an amphitheater that seats 5,800. "Before they get a big theater in there," said Oregon State Police Sgt. Ralph Nelson, "there has to be a plan for traffic." The traffic jam on the northbound lane between Medford and Central Point had agitated concertgoers popping heads out of sun-roofs like gophers � eyes squinting in the blazing sun to see how much further ahead the exit lay. Some released their frustration through their car horns. Others took time to stretch, relieve their bladders in the tall weeds or ask strangers for gas money. A smart few abandoned their cars and walked. Why was traffic such a problem? "We knew how many tickets were going to be sold so we were anticipating the crowd we had," said Nelson. "We were anticipating the number of cars we had." What authorities didn�t anticipate was that the majority of fans would show up just before the show started. Expo Manager Chris Borovansky said that even though around 6,000 tickets were sold, there were close to 8,000 people on the grounds. Many Deadheads came just to hang out or sell T-shirts, snacks and other wares. The Deadheads were drawn by former Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh, who played after Dylan. Borovansky said he�s never seen a traffic problem like this at an Expo event before. "You can�t just siphon cars off the freeway onto a two-lane road into two parking lots quick enough to prevent a backlog," said Central Point Police Chief Mike Sweeny. Although authorities say the situation was unpreventable due to last-minute concertgoers, they are looking at future traffic solutions. Emergency service representatives from throughout the area are expected to meet today with fair staff to discuss the traffic situation. "I don�t think there�s an easy answer," said Borovansky. Except, of course, for fans to show up early for future concerts. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA