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Twin entrances for Twin Creeks A new access road for Twin Creeks, long in the making, will cross the railroad tracks and tie into Highway 99. [Mail Tribune / Andy Atkinson] Tuesday Oct 17, 2017 at 5:15 PM Oct 17, 2017 at 6:19 PM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — A long-awaited second entrance into the Twin Creeks Crossings community along Highway 99 will break ground by January, along with a new railroad crossing and other improvements. Bids were opened last week, with Central Point-based Knife River providing the lowest bid of just over $2.3 million. Knife River's bid was $5,000 less than the second-lowest bid, by LaDuke Construction, also of Central Point. First proposed 17 years ago, the project will help traffic flow and provide another access point into the 230-acre Twin Creeks development. City officials expect construction to begin by January, with paving wrapping up as soon as spring temperatures allow for asphalt to set. Plans call for new sidewalks on the east side of Highway 99 and a traffic signal, as well. Public Works Director Matt Samitore said the project would improve traffic issues in the area of West Pine and Haskell streets, and at Pine and Front streets. Funding for the project will come from a combination of state and local dollars. A $2.67 million grant from the 2015-18 Oregon Surface Transportation Improvement Program will cover 76 percent of the project, with city and developer funds contributed by Twin Creeks LLC making up the rest. “The city is looking forward to moving through the process. This is definitely something that’s been a long time coming," Samitore said. "By the time we get through all the negotiations and the different processes, we hope to see things begin to happen on the site sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Developer Bret Moore, who began working on the transit-oriented community more than 17 years ago, said he looked forward to the second access point for the Twin Creeks neighborhood completed. The new road would connect Highway 99 with portions of Haskell Road and Twin Creeks Crossing, which connects to Grant Road. Much of the road infrastructure already has been constructed, with 300 feet — and the rail crossing — remaining. “It’s been part of the Twin Creeks Master Plan from the start. It will open up another safe route for traffic to move across the railroad track. It will also help alleviate some of the bottlenecks that commonly occur at Pine and Haskell streets or Pine and Front streets,” Moore said. “Not only has there been a significant increase in population in west Central Point, but a lot of traffic is generated from areas in the county west of town. This new crossing will give people transportation choices.” — Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].