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 Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... ROADWORK Hwy. 62 bypass work expected to kick off this summer Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:53 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:53 PM » Social News About $120 million worth of construction and improvements meant to ease traffic congestion and improve safety along a stretch of Highway 62 is set to kick off this summer. The work, officially known as the Oregon 62: I-5 to Dutton Road project, will build a four-lane expressway from Poplar Drive to Corey Road, diverging north along the Old Medco Haul Road. Most of the stretch will run west of Highway 62 and east of the Medford airport. All work is expected to be completed by 2018. The Oregon Department of Transportation acquired $100 million for the project in 2009 through the state's Jobs and Transportation Act, with the additional $20 million coming primarily from the U.S. Department of Transportation. More than $7 million of the money went toward an extensive environmental impact study of the route, which was approved two years ago. The construction's ultimate intent is to ease the flow for through-traffic, which ODOT officials say accounts for 45 percent of all traffic between Poplar Drive and Corey Road. Added congestion has driven up crash rates at several intersections along the way, often far above average, ODOT said. The first phase of construction this summer will build the section from Poplar Drive to Vilas Road, along with an overpass over Coker Butte Road. The second phase, expected to go to bid in February 2016 and start that spring, will build another overpass, over Vilas Road, and connect the final stretch to Corey Road. Sidewalks, bike lanes, park & rides and other improvements such as signal prioritization also will be built. A third phase, which would tie the corridor into Interstate 5 and Highway 140, would bring the total project cost to an estimated $400 million. ODOT spokesman Gary Leaming said a timetable for that portion is likely many years out and funding is not yet secured. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:53 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 2015 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