Phoenix, Ore.– The Oregon Department of Transportation will host a meeting for the public Thursday to get the public’s input on a proposed Highway 99corridorplan.
Just a couple days ago Kihan Yun said he saw a car crash in front of his Farmer’s Market in Phoenix.
“A lot of accidents in a 6 month period.”
According to the Oregon Department of Transportationthe stretch of Highway 99 between Garfield Street in Medford and North Valleyview in Ashland sees 80 accidents a year, 5%of them fatal.
That’s just one of the reasons Ian Horlacher with ODOT said the road needs work.
“We have plenty of capacity it operates well butsafety wiseespecially in thesections between Phoenix and Talent and Talent and Ashland where it’s a four lane section there’s a lot of turning cars…there’s a lot of rear ending accidents,” said Horlacher.
ODOT is now starting a 20 year plan for the Highway 99 corridorit includes widening sidewalksand narrowing lanes.
From Phoenix to Ashland instead of four lanes there’d be two with a middle lane for turns. Abike lane would be added to the entire 10.5 mile stretch.
“Everyone’s competing here for their space within the roadway,” said Horlacher.
Yun said he’s interested in the details and so far hopes ODOT follows through with the proposed changes.
“How many people have to be dying in this road. Then they finally pay attention.”
The “drop-in” open house will be at Jackson County Fire District #5’s Talent station at 5811 South Pacific Highway from 4pm until 7pm.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.