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 Woman facing charges in death of daughter pleads not guilty ... Phoenix teen sentenced to prison for gang-related shooting ... Kasich to make campaign stop in Medford ... Woman facing charges in death of daughter pleads not guilty ... Phoenix teen sentenced to prison for gang-related shooting ... Kasich to make campaign stop in Medford ... Pipeline project annoys east Medford residents Avista says Delta Waters project is almost done, but other streets are next Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 20, 2016 at 4:10 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 20, 2016 at 4:10 PM » Social News Months of digging in east Medford to lay new gas lines under the streets has rattled some nerves, and residents should brace for more work on side streets through the end of the year. “I’m sick of the damned dirt, the damned dust and the damned everything,” said 75-year-old Lela Bradley, who has lived along Delta Waters Road for 45 years. “They’ve worked on this for over a year.” She said the steel plates on the road keep her awake at night because they make a racket when cars roll over them, and she said it’s difficult to get in and out of her driveway, particularly for her guests. Steve Vincent, Avista spokesman, said work on Delta Waters should be wrapped up in about a week, including final paving. The $5 million natural gas pipeline upgrade and extension started last year, and the first phase of the project wrapped up in February. But Vincent said a second phase caused more underground work along the street. “We expect to be done with Delta Waters by the end of the week,” he said. Another major project on Lone Pine Road will continue for up to two months, Vincent said. Work on major road arteries in east Medford should end in about two months, he said, but work will continue on many smaller streets through the end of the year. Older service lines for individual houses were installed in backyards, but Vincent said the new lines will be installed with better access from the street. “We’re moving from one neighborhood to the next,” Vincent said. “We will need to work until the end of the year.” Vincent said there’s a steel plate on Pierce Road, but paving there has been stalled because of an issue with a high water table. He said the issue is is being resolved with the help of city engineers. Bradley said she got the impression from Avista that work on Delta Waters was almost completed. “They were wrong,” she said. Bradley said she’s already had to say goodbye to an almost 38-year-old bonsai tree that had to be cut down to make way for new gas lines. She said she received $2,000 in compensation for the loss of the tree. Now, she’s nervously eyeing a big pine tree that may have had its roots disturbed. “It just irritates you that you baby these trees for years, and they come along and destroy them,” she said. Kandy Oliver, 69, said she finds the work confusing because crews worked on one side of Delta Waters initially, and now are working on the other side. She said it seemed like Avista was finished on the road, and then work started all over again. “It does seem like it’s taking a long time, and those steel plates are annoying,” she said. “You can hear the cars driving over them.” Oliver said she’s gotten used to the mess, finding alternate routes to avoid most of the construction. “It sure seems like you can’t go down a road without seeing a construction sign,” she said. Cathy Cosette, who has a day care center with 40 kids on Delta Waters, said she hasn’t been bothered by the construction much, though it has been a lengthy project. “Maybe it’s taking so long because they don’t work long hours,” she said. The kids love to watch the guys working on the pipeline project from her backyard, Cosette said. She said construction crews are mindful that children and parents go in and out of her driveway. “For us, as we pick up kids, we just take alternate routes,” she said. “I haven’t had a lot of the parents complain about it.” When the work is finished in east Medford, Avista plans to install new pipelines in west Medford around Barnett Road next year. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 20, 2016 at 4:10 PM » 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