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37 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, December 19, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend July 7, 2003 Changes to ease congestion at the Fern Valley Interchange in Phoenix have rerouted Petro Stopping Center�s freight truck traffic right by a new subdivision. Residents along this and other portions without sound barrier walls are upset at all the noise. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Homeowners want break from rig noise By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Eileen Padilla counted 20 semi trucks driving by her home between 7:30 p.m. and midnight last Monday on South Phoenix Road — about one every 13 minutes — just a few feet from the back of her property. The road, located below her house, had little traffic until an improvement project on Fern Valley Road cut off access to and from the Petro truck stop via Pear Tree Lane on May 13. The intent was to move traffic farther to the east to ease problems at the Interstate 5 interchange. But the diesel engine noise on South Phoenix Road is bothering neighbors. A promised sound fence has yet to be built, although the Phoenix Hills subdivision developer says work should start within 30 days. "This (fence) should have been in place before the road was opened," said Padilla. "It was supposed to start July 1. We’ve been told a lot of things that didn’t happen." Advertisement Padilla’s house at 147 Country Hill Drive was always set to have trucks passing by under a plan that had them leave Petro on Furry Road and turn left onto South Phoenix to get to Fern Valley and Interstate 5. Other homes adjacent to South Phoenix might have been spared some of the noise, but the city of Phoenix couldn’t agree on a price with Petro for part of their property to run Furry all the way to Pear Tree Lane. Consequently, homes south of Furry also get the noise from rigs that travel south on Pear Tree, then go north on South Phoenix. A "road closed" sign on the west end of Furry Lane sits right next to the truck stop parking lot. City Planner Denis Murray has advised a Petro representative they could connect to the street. The representative did not return a call from the Mail Tribune. "When we moved in they said (the road) was just another entrance coming into the subdivision," said Diana Salvatore, who lives at 321 Phoenix Hills Drive, adjacent to South Phoenix. Salvatore and her neighbors between Furry and Meadow Drive may or may not get a sound barrier wall. The City Council in February decided that developers George Cota and Mike Mahar didn’t need to build one for that portion. But the council said it could be built at a later date, should a wall be necessary. The council will consider the issue on July 21. Sound walls were a condition of the subdivision’s approval. The council did require walls north of Furry and south of Meadow, even though homes haven’t been built in the latter area. Work on the walls should start within 30 days, said Cota. He anticipates the 6-foot walls will be finished in about a month. Some residents are paying to have two feet added on top. Those walls will cost about $60,000, excluding landscaping. Councilman Dan Sauro, who has visited with residents, is concerned the walls might not work. "The walls are not as high as truck stacks," Sauro said. "If we could open up Furry Road that would alleviate just about all the problems." Some people may not wait for a solution. Homes were for sale on both Country Hill Drive and Phoenix Hill Road on Wednesday. Salvatore and Padilla both say they’d consider selling if walls don’t ease the noise problem. They have other concerns too. "People are worried about ... polluting diesel fuel coming in the yards," said Salvatore. "We’ve got a nice yard and a nice garden and flowers. I know in time it’s going to affect that. We haven’t eaten outside in months." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times