Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW LATEST: FBI surrounds Oregon refuge occupiers ... Thieves target health club parking lots, again ... Teen in custody after fight, display of gun puts Butte Falls schools on lockdown ... LATEST: FBI surrounds Oregon refuge occupiers ... Thieves target health club parking lots, again ... Teen in custody after fight, display of gun puts Butte Falls schools on lockdown ... FERN VALLEY INTERCHANGE Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will be open Thursday Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 10:25 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 10:25 AM » Social News PHOENIX — The northbound on-ramp at exit 24 in Phoenix — part of a plethora of changes at the emerging Fern Valley interchange — will be open for commuters Thursday morning. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the ramp will open to traffic Wednesday night, but that it is the first step to the diverging diamond interchange's partial opening. That partial opening will open the new bridge over Interstate 5 to traffic, connecting the structure to the ramps to and from Medford. Northbound traffic on I-5 will be restricted to a single lane Wednesday night through Friday, which ODOT officials say will allow traffic to accelerate in the northbound slow lane as they get onto the highway. ODOT spokesman Gary Leaming advised morning commuters from Ashland and Talent to leave earlier than usual because of potential delays, and to be mindful of the lane restriction as they pass through the freeway stretch. The temporary lane restriction will also allow construction workers to finalize on-ramp's connection to I-5. The 50 mph construction zone speeds will continue to remain in place. Motorists are asked to be alert while traveling through the area because of potential congestion and delays. By Friday, a temporary northbound off-ramp, which will utilize Pear Tree Lane and South Phoenix Road, will also be open to vehicles. Construction for the $72 million Fern Valley Interchange project has been ongoing since spring 2014. The resulting new exit will be a diverging diamond pattern, the first of its kind in the state. The project is expected to wrap up in September 2016. On such an interchange, vehicles approach the overpass in the right lane, which allows a free right turn onto the freeway. The lanes cross, allowing a free left turn onto the freeway headed the opposite direction, then cross back to put vehicles in the usual right-hand lanes as they continue on the road. Steps planned for the coming weeks including traffic signal installation and tearing down the old bridge. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 10:25 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501