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3 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 Room for improvement ... Electric Highway aims to spark more EV use ... Rogue River man held on murder charge ... Room for improvement ... Electric Highway aims to spark more EV use ... Rogue River man held on murder charge ... OUR VIEW Our View: Highway 62 bypass — just get it done MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Bureaucracies are notorious for tying up government projects in red tape, and the Highway 62 bypass is a prime example. The idea of building a bypass along the old Medco Haul Road west of Highway 62 was being discussed as long ago as 1998, when then U.S. Rep. Bob Smith secured federal funding to start work on the "Highway 62 Solutions" project to address traffic congestion that already was a problem. Work was done to improve Highway 62 itself, but nothing was done about a bypass until more recently. Now, with the state Department of Transportation poised to start building the first four miles of the seven-mile bypass, Federal Aviation Administration rules have brought the project to a screeching halt. The proposed route passes through what's known as a "runway protection zone" at the edge of the Medford airport, and FAA approval is needed before work can proceed. Airport officials hope to argue that the protection zone has been expanded since the bypass project began, so the project should be allowed to proceed because it came first. The important thing is to get the bypass built as soon as possible. In 1998, planners were concerned about traffic volumes on Highway 62. Today, those volumes are nearly as high as on Interstate 5. Granted, Highway 62 has been improved since 1998, but it can handle only so much. We're not blaming the FAA for this mess; the agency has rules it must follow. But it should be possible to expedite the approval process so the project isn't help up for months at increased cost to taxpayers. Bob Smith's successor, Rep. Greg Walden, once was a staffer for Smith. Now, he's one of the most powerful members of the majority caucus in the House. Walden could exercise some of that power by impressing upon the FAA that this project needs to move ahead sooner rather than later.     MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. 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 2015 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