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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 | 7A from A1 HWY presented an informational slideshow to an audience of about 70 people, detailing the county’s designs on the corridor. Many in the audience had been eagerly antici- pating the presentation as the notion of an improved highway has weighed on the community’s collective consciousness for some time. Momentum for the proj- ect was largely generated in response to the tragic death of cyclist Jane Higdon on May 31, 2006. Higdon was bicycling in a group of four on Territorial Highway when she was struck and killed by a Kenworth truck. “The community ral- lied and insisted that we do something to improve the safety of Territorial High- way,” Taylor said of the in- cident. Years passed and grant money was finally secured in 2014 for a planning pro- cess to involve the com- munity in finding a design solution. The passage of Keep Oregon Moving, Oregon’s landmark transporta- tion package (HB 2017), enabled a jurisdictional change of ownership from the State of Oregon to Lane County, which was a deci- sive turning point for the project. “Since then, we’ve been preparing plans, investi- gating and we’re now con- fident that we can deliver the community-preferred alternative, starting con- struction next summer,” Taylor said. Taylor also emphasized the dangers of the highway. “I was white-knuckled driving here,” she said. “The problems are pret- ty apparent. There are no shoulders for cycling or for any other roadway user. If your car breaks-down, you’re in trouble. There’s flooding. On a regular ba- sis, it overtops the road in a 100-year storm. There are very sharp curves on what we call ‘Stony Point,’ an ac- tive slide and obvious poor pavement condition. And our project is going to solve all of these problems.” Taylor then revealed the county’s plans for the cor- ccb# 217560 r Ove 30 s Ye x a pe r rience ridor. “We’re providing 11-foot travel lanes, one in each di- rection, and six-foot shoul- ders on each side,” Taylor explained, which elicited a room full of applause. Because of the widening, the county anticipates im- pacts to property owners, though Taylor said, “We’re going to try to make it as painless as possible.” To decrease the bur- den on frequent Territo- rial travelers, the county has proposed to tackle the project in four phases over four summers. Phase 1 will begin in 2020 at a midway section of the highway, which ad- dresses a landslide hazard at Stony Point and realign- ment of the section’s partic- ularly sharp curves. Phase 2 construction will address the northern part of the corridor at Gilles- pie Corners in 2021. The curves of the road here will also be “softened” and two bridges will be raised and widened. Phase 3’s 2022 construc- tion will realign the corners of a segment between Easy Acres Drive and Hamm Road. Phase 4 will complete construction in 2023 on the corridor’s southern half between Territorial Lane and Cottage Grove-Lo- rane Road, implementing improvements the latter’s intersection and more soft- ening of curves along the roadway. Following the presen- tation, break-out tables staffed by experts provided information on each phase of the project to locals as concerns and input were documented. Jim Edwards, a 50-year resident of Territorial Highway, owns several properties along the corri- dor including the Lorane Family Store. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said of the project. “Stony Point’s been a prob- lem every year.” Edwards said people have been known to over- estimate their driving skills on the roadway. “And during the winter time, there’s ice and snow on that thing, so it’s just kind of a dangerous situ- ation,” he said. “And so, I hope they get that straight- ened out a little bit.” Local resident Ruth Mill- er also attested to the dan- gers of the highway. “Ever since I’ve lived near this road, it’s been scary to drive my car on,” she said. Miller runs Dam- selTours, a small company of e Get up to $250 off when you schedule your interior or exterior repaint by July 1! Insurance problems? We can help dfr.oregon.gov Call us for a Free Quote! “We do small remodels, home repairs and decks! Serving Lane & North Douglas Counties 541-735-0089 SUMMER AT THE LIBRARY Join us for: Summer Reading Kick-Off Party Wed. June 19 th , 2-4pm Summer Preschool Storytime Wednesdays at 10:30am Friday “Drop-In” Preschool Play Date Fridays at 10:30am for informal family fun Ukulele Club Thursdays Adults: 9am Kids: 10am Adventure Field Trip Sign-ups happening now State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, who was expected to at- tend the evening’s meeting, though he was reportedly held up in Salem due to the recent Republican walkout of the legislature. “It’s bittersweet,” Jeffer- son said. “Coming here, I had to travel over the part of the road where she was killed. It’s hard. But the sweet part is, something positive is happening. … That was the reason for putting the foundation together, was to keep her spirit alive in some way.” Overall, Jefferson was pleased with the project and the traction it has gath- ered. “The plan that they have right now looks to me like the right plan,” he said. “I think everybody will be happy with it in the end. At least I hope they will be.” The meeting was not the last chance for stakeholders to voice concerns or give input. Two more events will take place before con- struction begins next sum- mer. A public hearing is scheduled to take place before the Lane County Transportation Adviso- ry Committee at the Lane County Public Works De- partment on July 24 from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m., then a fi- nal Board of County Com- missioners meeting will be held at an unspecified date this fall to approve the plan. If approved, the proj- ect will then begin acquir- ing rights-of-way. Those living along the corridor who did not re- ceive notice of the June 20 informational meeting are encouraged to share their contact information with the county by contacting Becky Taylor at 541-682- 6932. US JOIN ... R FO 700 E. Gibbs Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-0168 FREE Special Event which arranges affordable bicycle tours for women, but is herself reticent to take her bike on Territorial. “On the rare occasion I brave riding my bicycle, I’m really frightened for my life and I shouldn’t have to be,” she said. “The road is not created for safe travel for cars.” Miller cited blind cor- ners and the lack of shoul- ders as her main concerns. “The only surprising thing to me is that it’s tak- en so long to happen. And that there’s been lives lost and people injured because the state and the county have dragged their feet so long,” she said. “I’m really happy to see it’s finally go- ing to happen.” Most reactions appeared positive at the meeting, including that of Higdon’s husband, Tom Jefferson. Now a retired family physician, Jefferson re- called the devastating event which served as a catalyst for the project. “It pretty much changed my life — completely, very sadly,” he said. “But as a result of that, there was so much outpouring of sup- port for me and for her that we were able to create a foundation.” The Jane Higdon Foun- dation has since raised funding for at least two dozen social, education- al, bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, according to its website. Naturally, a sizeable amount was put toward the initial planning phase of the Territorial project. “The Jane Foundation and King Estate put togeth- er $100,000 of community support to show this was a project people were inter- ested in,” Jefferson said. The effort had even gar- nered support from Oregon n The Northwest’s Finest Gardening Seed n Flowers, Herbs, & Shrubs n Vegetable Transplants n Fruit Trees P.O. Box 547 Cottage Grove, OR 20 Palmer Ave. n Cottage Grove n (541) 942-0510 DEMENTIA SUPPORT G UEST S PEAKIER A BBY G ERSHENZON , Regional Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association Learn the symptoms of DEMENTIA, including ALZHEIMER’S, and learn how to support loved ones and friends who live with dementia. Wednesday, June 26 – 6:30 p.m. For more information call: Linda LaZar (541) 942-0054 1425 Daugherty Ave • Cottage Grove Refreshments will be served A Proud Supporter of Our Community Since 1983 A proud sponsor for the Kids Summer Reading Program w w w. s t a r f i r e l u m b e r. c o m IMPROVISIATIONAL THEATER ^LLRJSHZZ^P[O /V^HYK (UKYLH/\TTLS JULY 7,14,21,28 & AUG 4,11 From 6-8PM Cottage Grove Sentinel Introduces... GUARANTEED GARAGE SALES We know how much work you put into preparing for a garage sale. Then it rains! We want to help you with our new... Garage Sales Insurance Package! If bad weather aff ects your Garage Sale call us within 7 days and we will re-run your ad in our paper 1x and online 5x more Guranteed Garage Sale Package Includes: 15 Words in 8 ads ✔ 1 in paper and 7 online ✔ 2 Signs & Tip Sheet ✔ Only $15 ✔ Normal price is $12 with 2 signs, insurance is only $3 for a complete additional 8 ad run! 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