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Bids for the long-anticipated Weaver Road extension between Myrtle Creek and Tri City should go out next summer, Robb Paul, Douglas County's public works director told the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.
The two-lane extension would provide motorists with another route to access the area in between the two towns. It would route traffic from the existing Weaver Road exit at Milepost 106 on Interstate 5 across the South Umpqua River along a new bridge and would empty out onto Old Pacific Highway.
Currently, motorists headed to that area must leave the freeway at the Myrtle Creek exit and Milepost 108 or at the Riddle-Tri City exit at Milepost 103.
Construction of the bridge would provide several benefits. It would improve traffic flow, improve public safety, increase business opportunities and bring added utility service.
“I think this is really going to change both the commercial and residential use of the Tri City area once we have this additional interchange in for people to access the freeway,” Paul said.
Emergency crews from the Tri City Rural Fire District responding to freeway accidents on the southbound lanes between Exits 108 and 103 must currently head north, turn around and head south again reach to reach the accident scene.
Having the Weaver Road interchange, which will come out at the highway near Wecks Road, will save three to four miles in travel distance.
The additional route would also make it easier to deal with detours caused by accidents on the Myrtle Creek curves. When a semitruck and trailer crashes on the curves and blocks both lanes of traffic either northbound or southbound, freeway traffic must be diverted through the entire five-mile stretch between Myrtle Creek and south of Tri City.
Having Weaver Road available to divert traffic would shorten the detour significantly.
The Federal Highway Administration will pay about 70 percent of the $23 million project. The federal government earlier awarded $17 million for construction.
The county is working to finish up an environmental review and submit required documentation. A final hearing will be held in coming months in the Myrtle Creek area to review public input given at previous hearings and an open house on the bridge that will cross the river and its impact on the riverbanks and vegetation, Paul said.
Construction could be finished by fall 2013, Paul said.
“A lot of people are excited about the potential benefits for this project,” said Commissioner Susan Morgan, who represented Myrtle Creek during her 10 years in the Oregon Legislature.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
The two-lane extension would provide motorists with another route to access the area in between the two towns. It would route traffic from the existing Weaver Road exit at Milepost 106 on Interstate 5 across the South Umpqua River along a new bridge and would empty out onto Old Pacific Highway.
Currently, motorists headed to that area must leave the freeway at the Myrtle Creek exit and Milepost 108 or at the Riddle-Tri City exit at Milepost 103.
Construction of the bridge would provide several benefits. It would improve traffic flow, improve public safety, increase business opportunities and bring added utility service.
“I think this is really going to change both the commercial and residential use of the Tri City area once we have this additional interchange in for people to access the freeway,” Paul said.
Emergency crews from the Tri City Rural Fire District responding to freeway accidents on the southbound lanes between Exits 108 and 103 must currently head north, turn around and head south again reach to reach the accident scene.
Having the Weaver Road interchange, which will come out at the highway near Wecks Road, will save three to four miles in travel distance.
The additional route would also make it easier to deal with detours caused by accidents on the Myrtle Creek curves. When a semitruck and trailer crashes on the curves and blocks both lanes of traffic either northbound or southbound, freeway traffic must be diverted through the entire five-mile stretch between Myrtle Creek and south of Tri City.
Having Weaver Road available to divert traffic would shorten the detour significantly.
The Federal Highway Administration will pay about 70 percent of the $23 million project. The federal government earlier awarded $17 million for construction.
The county is working to finish up an environmental review and submit required documentation. A final hearing will be held in coming months in the Myrtle Creek area to review public input given at previous hearings and an open house on the bridge that will cross the river and its impact on the riverbanks and vegetation, Paul said.
Construction could be finished by fall 2013, Paul said.
“A lot of people are excited about the potential benefits for this project,” said Commissioner Susan Morgan, who represented Myrtle Creek during her 10 years in the Oregon Legislature.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
