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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
Roadside
from 1A
She continued, “What we
wanted to do with the pedestri-
an crossing signs is to call
attention to the drivers that it
was more likely that someone
would be crossing there
because one of the sidewalks is
closed on the bridge.”
The sign is located at Barrett
Creek Lane, the first intersec-
tion south of the highway.
While the sign does notify driv-
ers that pedestrians may be
crossing, it does not clearly
communicate to the pedestrians
themselves where they should
cross.
“You have to travel a number
of yards north just to find a
place to cross,” Stewart said.
“Most people just cross at the
bridge. I haven’t been hit yet,
but I can’t explain to you how
many times I’ve almost been
hit.”
But crossing at the bridge
can be dangerous because of
the limited sight distance driv-
ers have, according to Beers
Seydel.
“Part of the reason they
chose to put the signs where
they did at Barrett Creek Lane
was specifically because it had
the best sight distance. It was
one of the legal crossings, but
we definitely wanted to give
people as much sight as possi-
ble,” she said.
But even with the best line of
sight, getting across the high-
way in a timely manner can be
difficult.
“I’m extremely athletic and
I’m telling you, I have a hard
time crossing in time,” Stewart
said.
Beers Seydel is
aware of the prob-
lems facing pedes-
trians right now
due to the con-
struction, stating
ODOT is monitor-
ing the situation
closely.
“We’re continu-
ing to look at it,”
she said. “It takes
a long time to
work through and
get decisions on
things.”
Some of the
safety decisions
that ODOT could
implement include
more signs, flash-
ing signs and
additional flag-
ging. But a full
investigation on
JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
what is exactly Vehicles entering Siuslaw River Bridge from the south have a limited field of view. Pedestrians face
needed could take a number of obstacles — some due to ODOT construction and some due to vehicle speeds, the
up to a month to slope of Highway 101 and the lack of lights and crosswalks.
complete.
ically you have people who the line racing up the high-
“This is why we’re going to urges caution.
“Please
be
very,
very
care-
feel like they can get on their way,” Stewart said.
continue to monitor the area,”
ful,”
she
said.
“And
we
would
gas pedal really hard and race
He believes the best way to
Beers Seydel said. “We don’t
tell
our
folks
who
travel
up
the
hill,”
he
said.
avoid
this would be to reduce
want to see people in harm’s
through
this
area
that
there
“Basically,
the
speed
should
be
the
speed
limit. To do that,
way, but it also becomes a part-
may
be
pedestrians
and
watch
reduced.”
Beers
Seydel
suggests the com-
nership with our community of
for
the
signs.”
Because
of
the
speeds,
munity
get
involved.
people recognizing that right
But the issues facing the Stewart notices a lot of drivers
“The first step is always peo-
now, because the sidewalk is
south
side
of
the
bridge
are
not
going
over
the
white
lines,
put-
ple
coming forward and saying
closed, there may be more peo-
limited
to
construction,
ting
pedestrians
who
are
stay-
they
see a need. One of the
ple crossing.”
according
to
Stewart.
While
ing
out
of
the
road
in
danger.
However, not everyone who
travels Highway 101 is a part of the sidewalks will eventually In some portions of the road,
the local community. From be open, the speed limit will particularly when exiting the
bridge, space can be tight.
sightseers traveling up the coast remain the same.
“When
you’re
leaving
out
of
“People drive by me and my
in their RVs to semi trucks bar-
town,
heading
south,
the
kids
near the bridge and flip us
reling down the highway to
minute
you
leave
the
40
mph
off
and
act like we’re way out
deliver goods, the dangers of
bridge,
45
mph
is
the
first
sign
of
place,
but we’re walking in
the area can often go unseen.
that
anybody
sees.
So
automat-
the
dirt
and
they’re way over
Because of this, Beers Seydel
MOVING SALE!
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9am-5pm,
4020 Munsel Creek Dr.,
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places they can go with that is
the Lane Area Commission on
Transportation. That sort of
commission is where people
typically go to and say, ‘We see
a problem.’ The commission
looks at the local issues and
takes them up to the state, and
that’s how ODOT looks at var-
ious ways we may fund a proj-
ect.”
Beers Seydel suggested that
if anyone has concerns about
the long-term safety of the
south corridor, they can con-
tact
the
Lane
Area
Commission
on
Transportation to make per-
manent changes.
In the meantime, Beers
Seydel and Stewart hope that
the community will look out
for each other until more per-
manent solutions can be found.
“My biggest thing is if peo-
ple could just please read the
signs and respect the lines, it
would save a lot of lives,”
Stewart said.
Editors note: Siuslaw News
has had several community
members ask if there has been
a fund set up to help the fam-
ily of Heather Sanford, the
28-year-old mother of four
who was struck and killed just
south of the bridge. For those
wanting to contribute, visit
www.gofundme.com/heather-
sanford-memorial-fund.
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