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An update on ramp plantings Chuck B. of Medford asked us Jan. 8 how much it cost to replant some of the vegetation at the southbound on- and off-ramps at the north Medford interchange with Interstate 5. He asked us why some of the plants and grass were being replaced. We were able to describe what happened and why, but were unable to furnish the figures. But now we have them. -- Since You Asked staff According to Monte Grove, area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, the agency deducted about $16,000 from what it paid Huffman-Wright Construction for the rebuilding of the interchange. ODOT said the contractor planted some of the wrong plants. Grove also said ODOT paid about $15,000 for replacing "high-maintenance grass," which requires a lot of watering and mowing, with a drought-resistant, low-growing grass better suited to Southern Oregon. Incidentally, we misidentified John Vial, who gave the information for the original answer Jan. 8. Vial is the district manager for ODOT. (Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) Today's News Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA