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Last stop ahead for interchange options By JILL BRISKEY Residents will have one last chance to speak up before the state makes its decision on the proposed $50 million south Medford freeway interchange. A public hearing and open house is slated for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Scottish Rite Temple, 955 N. Phoenix Road. Residents will have the opportunity to go on record regarding three alternatives for Medford's south interchange. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the majority of Medford's City Council prefer an alternative connecting the interchange to Highland Drive. Highland would be extended south of Barnett Road and across Bear Creek to a new interchange at the south end of the South Gateway Center. Transportation officials say this alternative would have the least impact on businesses, residents and the environment. Land acquisition costs are estimated at $9.6 million. Land acquisition for an Ellendale Drive alternative would cost approximately $14.4 million. Relocating the intersection to Ellendale Drive would displace more homes and businesses than the Highland alternative. However, opponents of the Highland alternative say that the Ellendale choice would have the least impact on traffic in area neighborhoods. The Ellendale alternative includes extending the southern end of Ellendale Drive southeast to a new interchange at the South Gateway Center. Some residents of east Medford support the no-build alternative, which wouldn't result in any significant changes to the Barnett intersection. The alternative, which includes safety improvements and basic maintenance, is cheaper but does not address congestion problems. The biggest concerns among residents focus on increased traffic in neighborhoods. "The traffic is really going to increase no matter what," said Gary Leaming, ODOT project information specialist. "People are continuing to move to Medford. Hopefully we can work together to come up with solutions." Leaming said the interchange is being constructed to handle local transportation needs until at least 2030. A recent traffic volume study shows that in 2030, traffic on Highland Drive between Barnett Road and Siskiyou Boulevard would average 14,100 vehicles per day if the no-build alternative was selected. Leaming says the figure is the lowest of the possible outcomes because of severe traffic congestion. An estimated 19,100 vehicles would use Highland Drive between Barnett and Siskiyou daily if the Highland alternative was selected. Approximately 15,800 vehicles would travel across Highland Drive in the same location in 2030 if the Ellendale alternative is selected. To help keep northbound traffic from flooding residential neighborhoods, Leaming said, ODOT would install signs directing motorists to alternative routes. With the Highland alternative, southbound traffic would travel along an extended Belknap Road and later connect with Highway 99. Drivers using the Ellendale alternative would exit the interchange and emerge halfway between Highland Drive and Black Oak Drive on Barnett Road. Traffic entering Medford from the south could turn east or west. Motorists heading north could continue along Ellendale, which eventually turns into Greenwood Street. Greenwood Street connects to Highland Drive, giving motorists a different route north. Crestbrook Road also intersects Ellendale. Drivers heading east on Crestbrook Road would loop back to Barnett Road and westbound drivers would intersect Greenwood Street. Southbound traffic would travel to Belknap Road and could continue onto Highway 99. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.