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TRANSPORTATION Table Rock Road slated for improvements Bike lanes, sidewalks to be added Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 6:02 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 6:02 PM » Social News A section of Table Rock Road is slated for improvements that include a center turn lane, bike lanes and sidewalks. With design work still to be done, the project likely will start in spring 2017 and wrap up in the fall of that year, said Jackson County Roads and Parks Director John Vial. The road will remain open to traffic during construction, he said. The lack of a center turn lane on the section of Table Rock Road between Biddle Road almost to Interstate 5 causes problems for motorists, Vial said. "We're having continued issues with left turns," he said. "Without a center turn lane, it's difficult to make a left turn. You're blocking traffic and backing up everyone behind you. It's getting congested there, and it's hard to get a break to make a turn." There are also safety problems associated with having no bike lanes or sidewalks along the stretch of road, Vial said. "A fair number of people walk and bike there, and there's no place for them to go," he said. Table Rock Road will be expanded to five vehicle lanes with a center turn lane between Biddle Road and Airport Road. It will have three vehicle lanes with a center turn lane from Airport Road almost to I-5, he said. Vial said 40 properties abut the road, and right of way will have to be purchased to widen the road segment. People living in one to three residences along the route may have to move. Because of the number of houses along the route, construction will probably not be done at night, he said. Jackson County, Medford and Central Point are teaming up on the project, with each contributing $269,880, according to information from the county. The cost of the project is estimated at almost $7.9 million, with the bulk of the money coming from federal funding that passes through the state of Oregon to local jurisdictions, said Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan. The funding is meant for projects that enhance different modes of transportation, mitigate congestion and benefit air quality, according to county documents. Vial predicted few impacts to businesses from the construction project. Costco is considering building a shopping center off Table Rock Road. A determination has not been made about the company making a financial contribution to the project, he said. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized the project Wednesday. Commissioner Rick Dyer said anyone who has traveled that section of Table Rock Road will see the need for the improvements. Commissioner Colleen Roberts pointed out the addition of bike lanes supports multimodal transportation, which benefits the environment. Other sections of Table Rock Road already have been improved, and the segment between Biddle Road and I-5 represents the last that will be improved for the foreseeable future. Jackson County will turn its attention to other road projects, Vial said. The construction project will include installation of a storm-water system plus a new traffic signal on Table Rock Road at the intersection with Airport Road, according to county officials. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 12, 2015 at 5:00 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 6:02 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... 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