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SUNNY Temp: 67 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Sunday, June 15, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2003 Doomed businesses hang on till the end By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune While buildings will be demolished starting mid-July, some businesses are still plugging away where the north Medford interchange will be built. "It’s been a bummer," said Pat Ebert, general manager at Best Western Pony Soldier Inn on Crater Lake Highway. Ebert said since businesses all around her have closed in advance of the wrecking ball, the Pony Soldier has seen a dramatic decline in business. She estimates the motel, which is planning to remain open through August, has about half the number of customers as it did a year ago. The Pony Soldier is one of 31 properties the Oregon Department of Transportation is purchasing for its $36 million north Medford interchange project. Some of the property owners are still in negotiations with the state agency. Advertisement The vacant buildings that used to house Carl’s Jr., the Rogue Valley Center, Denny’s and IHOP are scheduled to be leveled in mid-July to make room for the project, which is set to go to bid in October. Construction should begin in early 2004 and last two years. The new interchange will give drivers direct access between Interstate 5 and Highway 62, separating local and highway traffic. "We’ve got some real concerns with the traffic backing up on the interstate and with traffic backing up on (Highway) 62," said Gary Leaming, ODOT project information specialist. "We got a lot of fender-benders." The project includes a 320-foot long concrete retaining wall — 15-feet high at its highest point — that will run along a new access ramp where the IHOP parking lot is now, he said. Leaming said ODOT has been working with the city on devising ways to dress up the concrete, with the idea that the interchange is the gateway to the city. The wall will have artistic renderings of salmon, cattails and Douglas fir sprigs in the concrete, he said. Access to the Fred Meyer store from Highway 62 also will be changed — the traffic light southwest of Poplar Drive will be removed and the access will be right-in, right-out only. There will be a new traffic signal entrance to Fred Meyer and Poplar Square on Poplar Drive south of Highway 62. The new intersection will be farther south than existing entrances near Highway 62. Leaming said ODOT has worked with Fred Meyer and other businesses on the interchange plan. "We try to make these things as painless as possible," said Leaming. "With change there’s a little pain." The public is invited to attend the project update meeting scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon today at ODOTs Rogue Valley office, 200 Antelope Road, White City. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search 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 A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley 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