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City looks at ways to move I-5 By Jessica Smith A tunnel under the city�s core. A beltline around Medford. A whole new freeway from Phoenix to Central Point. These are just some of the ideas from members of the Medford City Council, who say it�s time to think seriously about moving freeway traffic out of downtown. "Everybody recognizes the fact that the interstate is in the wrong place," said Councilman Skip Knight. The interstate splits Medford in two, Knight and others say. It separates the east side from the west side. It makes travel within the city difficult. It�s an eyesore. "It�s in a bad place," Councilman Bill Moore summed up. "It�s right through the heart of town." At a meeting Thursday, the council voted unanimously to request a state feasibility study on moving the freeway. State transportation officials are planning in two years to begin making improvements to the viaduct � the portion of the freeway that is elevated over downtown Medford � that will keep it standing at least another 20 years. Faced with the possibility that the viaduct may need to be rebuilt some day, the council said it makes sense to look for alternatives, such as a tunnel. "It�s an idea that keeps coming back over and over again. It hasn�t been addressed because it comes with a big price tag," said Mayor Lindsay Berryman. "The more that we invest in our downtown, the more we recognize the benefits of taking the viaduct and tunneling underground with it." Knight, who also supports tunneling the freeway, estimated such work could cost the state as much as $700 million. Two of the most expensive future road projects in Medford � improvements to the north and south I-5 interchanges � will cost less than 10 percent of what it would take to tunnel the 2.7-mile stretch of freeway that bisects the city. The Oregon Department of Transportation says it�s too soon to discuss costs, or whether building a four-lane freeway underground is a good idea. But something like that would be expensive, said Frank Stevens, who heads up one of ODOT�s solution teams in Medford. "It�s more than fairly expensive," he said. "The costs would be very high. (Tunnels are) the most expensive type of construction I�m familiar with." Stevens, who has traveled the full length of the interstate, said he�s unaware of any sections that go under a city. Some may tunnel through a mountain, he said. Still, ODOT is expected next week to discuss a potential feasibility study with city leaders. Stevens said any study would likely examine the costs, benefits and drawbacks of moving the freeway. Aside from the tunnel, some members of the council want the state to study whether a beltline route around Medford or a new freeway in the valley would solve some of their concerns about I-5 traffic in town. According to Councilman Sal Esquivel, a large percentage of the drivers who use the freeway do so to get from one end of the valley to the other. It makes sense, he said, to move that traffic out of the downtown area. It�s unclear when a feasibility study might take place, or whether the city or state could find funding for such a massive project. Yet city leaders say it�s never too soon to start planning ahead. "At least we should plant a seed," Knight said. "If you plant a seed and nurture it, at some point it�s going to grow." Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.