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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services App Finder: Great garden apps MSD considers adding a health center at one of the city's high schools Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Jackson County proposes wide pot buffers Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Minor injuries reported in rollover crash near hospital Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Police arrest teen in Medford graffiti spree Medford machete attack leads to attempted murder charge Politics and Elections Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Education MSD considers adding a health center at one of the city's high schools Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Territorial Seed contribution a boost for SOU food program 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Environment Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip State News Oregon official says he was questioned by FBI, IRS Hayes wants her private emails protected Oregon Senate votes unanimously to outlaw 'revenge porn' Judge: Oracle must host Oregon's Medicaid system Oregon Coast fish could be from Japanese tsunami Nation - World Obituaries Pamela Sue Banuelos Judith Ann Miller Rita Launa Stitt Ursula E. Johnson Thomas H. Smith Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories No. 7 Arizona has little trouble with Colorado LeBron scores 42 as Cavs top Warriors Stanford too much for Beavers, 75-48 Stanford spoils OSU party LeBron unhappy over recruiting of son, 10 Varsity 541 College Sports No. 7 Arizona has little trouble with Colorado Stanford too much for Beavers, 75-48 Stanford spoils OSU party Raiders, Owls meet in '14 title rematch Oregon will take care of its athletes Pro Sports LeBron scores 42 as Cavs top Warriors LeBron unhappy over recruiting of son, 10 No word on discipline for Hamilton Herman takes first-day lead at Honda Matthews, Blazers sink Spurs Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Lithia Motors scores record revenue, net earnings in 4Q and 2014 Bad fourth quarter leads to 2014 loss for Erickson Avista's 4Q earnings of $32.2 million fall short of expectations Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business People in Business Transportation Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Opinion Latest Our View: School attendance bill could backfire Letters to the Editor, Feb. 27 Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Arthur I. Cyr: Iran nuclear accord – tough negotiations, at home and abroad Letters to the Editor, Feb. 26 Editorials Our View: School attendance bill could backfire Our View: Higher education still getting too little Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 27 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 26 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Columns Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Dana Milbank: The Homeland Security fiasco Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? Kathleen Parker: Twitter as America's conscience Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Lifestyle Latest stories Looking Up: Shining under your feet Fishing Report: Friday, Feb. 27 Winging it Dry-dock inspections this weekend Get Out: Friday, Feb. 27 Food Page H. Onorato: Hot dogs I have known and loved Season Stepp: Tips for roasting vegetables Tammy Kelly: Here’s to healthier Mex! Prudence Hilburn: Chocolate wins favor among fans of many flavors Maple: It's not just for syrup Home and Garden Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Dear Monty: Home seller questions agent ethics Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Health Community blog: Finding Your Indomitable Spirit to Defeat Addiction Dr. Murray Feingold: ‘Beet’ high blood pressure with borscht Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Dining Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Emergency services ... Mail Tribune 100: Feb. 27, 1915 ... Our View: School attendance bill could backfire ... Emergency services ... Mail Tribune 100: Feb. 27, 1915 ... Our View: School attendance bill could backfire ... MEDFORD Big quake requires big plans By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 5:26 pm Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 5:31 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 5:26 pm Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 5:31 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Like it or not, the aging viaduct on Interstate 5 that cuts Medford in half is a lifeline for the region and the West Coast, even though it remains vulnerable to collapse if the big one shakes it too hard. The future of the 3,222-foot-long viaduct will be reviewed with the help of $4 million from the Oregon Transportation Commission. The Oregon Department of Transportation recently hired Kittleson and Associates Inc. of Portland to begin the initial review, which could take six months to a year and cost about $500,000. Kittleson will look at a range of possibilities for replacing or enhancing the vulnerable viaduct, from tunneling under Medford to rerouting the freeway. Other options include bringing that part of I-5 down to grade or creating parallel routes through Medford to take some of the load off the viaduct, which sees about 40 percent of its traffic from locals wanting to go across town. More than likely, retaining the viaduct where it is now will emerge as one of the strongest possibilities, though work will have to be done to beef it up so it would survive a major earthquake. “We’re stuck with it,” Medford Councilor Daniel Bunn said. “We can either rebuild it or bring it down to grade.” Any of the options considered will have benefits and drawbacks that could impact Medford, which has too few north/south connector streets. “It’s a mess,” Bunn said. "It’s a very difficult engineering problem.” The span has been criticized almost from the day it was built in 1962 because it created a concrete divider that separates east and west Medford, is vulnerable to an earthquake and sits uncomfortably close to Bear Creek and the downtown. If the viaduct is removed and the freeway is brought down to grade, it would create issues with bridges on local streets. The freeway would still have to cross Bear Creek, and sound walls would likely have to be installed. Whatever option is chosen will be expensive, costing potentially hundreds of millions of dollars and requiring heavy infusions of federal dollars. To qualify for the federal money, the first step is the $4 million study. Transportation officials hope the initial review will pare the possibilities down to two options that will be further studied in a lengthy environmental assessment, similar to the work on the upcoming Highway 62 bypass or the south Medford interchange. “I’m trying to keep my mind as open as possible,” former councilor Al Densmore said. He will be applying for a seat on the citizen advisory committee that will examine the options. Densmore, who remains involved in local transportation panels, said he thinks that engineers will ultimately guide the final option chosen because suggestions such as tunneling or rerouting would be prohibitively expensive. Whatever option is chosen, Densmore said he hopes a way can be found to make the viaduct through Medford less of a concern in the event of a quake. The loss of the viaduct in a major earthquake would create significant economic damage to Jackson County, as traffic and resources likely would be diverted elsewhere. The state of Oregon already has said it will put its energies into U.S. 97 after an earthquake because it anticipates many bridges along Interstate 5, including the viaduct, will crumble. Highway 97, east of the Cascades, has fewer major bridges and is also farther from the expected source of an earthquake from the Cascadia subduction zone off the Oregon Coast. In 2003, ODOT resurfaced the viaduct and installed some seismic retrofits that would prevent it from collapsing in a minor earthquake. To withstand a major quake, the viaduct's vertical pillars would likely have to be wrapped in steel, along with other improvements, said Gary Leaming, spokesman for ODOT. “It is one of the most critical bridges in Oregon, though there are other bridges that could fail,” Leaming said. During the initial review, Kittleson likely will determine whether it’s better to rebuild or replace the viaduct, while also looking at adding extra lanes to accommodate additional traffic. Whatever option is chosen, it will require public involvement and analysis that could take five years or longer, Leaming said. “We have to vet through all this with the public,” he said. “It is such a landmark structure, and any changes to it are going to have big impacts on the community.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 5:26 pm Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 5:31 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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