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ODOT gives Medford semiannual construction update; ADA ramp program and Foothill Road project highlighted
Summary
ODOT presented several Southern Oregon projects including I‑5 wrong‑way mitigation, completion of the Big X intersection work, the $73M Foothill Road Corridor (City received a $15.5M BUILD grant), and phased ADA ramp replacements (phase 2: ~113 ramps; phase 3: ~400 ramps, with four Medford intersections). The Highland‑to‑Barnett northbound project will add capacity; the city has pledged $2.5M toward the roughly $5M effort.
Eli Oberlander, interim Rogue Valley area manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, gave the Medford City Council a biannual construction update on Jan. 21, covering several projects within Medford city limits and the surrounding region.
Oregon 1–5 wrong‑way driver mitigation: Oberlander said a roughly $3.3 million package to add larger wrong‑way signs, improved reflectivity and some recessed pavement markers is wrapping up at the end of the month on the stretch between the California border and Exit 163. The work targets a historically disproportionate number of fatal wrong‑way crashes in Southern Oregon.
Foothill Road Corridor: The Foothill project is a $73 million corridor project intended to provide an alternate, seismically resilient route to I‑5 in the event of a major earthquake. Oberlander said the city successfully secured a $15.5 million BUILD grant; mainline work and widening have been completed and permanent pavement is in place, with final striping anticipated in March.
Oregon 99 Glenwood to Coleman Creek: That ~$20 million corridor rebuild was presented as largely complete with remaining warranty punch‑list items and nighttime pavement marker work.
ADA curb ramps: Oberlander described a statewide ADA ramp program that has been phased in Jackson County as a response to settlement and compliance requirements. He said Phase 2 included about 113 ramps (with Medford, Central Point and Ashland the primary locations) and Phase 3 is a larger bundle of about 400 ramps across several cities; four intersections in Medford (Beale on 99, Sage Road at 99, Lowry Lane, and Goldrage Road) are included in the Phase 3 grouping. ODOT staff estimated a planning figure of roughly $50,000 per corner for design and construction, or about $200,000 per intersection as a rough benchmark, while noting costs vary by site.
Northbound Highland Drive to Barnett Road: Oberlander said this roughly $5 million project is intended to add storage and reduce morning queuing on I‑5 at Exit 27; the city has contributed $2.5 million and the project is expected to be bid in June with construction beginning late fall and finishing the following summer.
Councilors asked technical questions about per‑ramp cost, grant repayment risk and jurisdictional responsibility for local intersections; Oberlander said the city generally controls city streets and would lead work except where work affects the Exit 27 interchange. Public Works and transportation staff supplemented ODOT’s presentation with additional context on traffic counts, ADA compliance obligations and timing.
Ongoing steps: staff recommended coordination with ODOT and continued public outreach; councilors asked staff to provide follow‑up details about ramp counts, costs and how overlay schedules tie to ramp replacements.
