Downtown bike lanes part of $1 million in Medford paving projects

Published 10:10 am Thursday, April 20, 2023

Medford is poised to roll out more than $1 million worth of paving and street projects this summer, including Main Street in downtown.

On Thursday, Medford City Council will consider two separate ordinances for two types of paving projects that will improve six major city streets.

A $691,954.94 contract with Knife River Materials will lay down new asphalt on Main Street, from the Bear Creek Bridge to 100 feet west of Oakdale Avenue, and on Delta Waters Road, from Crater Lake Avenue to Highway 62.

Knife River was the only company to bid on the job, but the cost was 12% higher than the city’s estimate. Knife River has been the low bidder for other pavement projects in the previous three years.

The unexpectedly high bid driven up by inflation has raised concerns by city officials about scaling back on pavement projects in the future.

“If prices remain inflated, adjustments to next year’s pavement plan will be needed to stay within budgeted amounts,” according to a report prepared by Public Works Director John Vial to Medford City Council.

A separate $396,325 contract with Valley Slurry Seal Inc. will lay down a chip seal on various streets.

Of five bids submitted, Valley Slurry was the low bidder.

Chip seal is considered a relatively cost-effective way to extend the life of a roadway before it needs the more expensive option of rolling out new asphalt.

Chip sealing, which many drivers find to be a nuisance because of the tiny rocks and oily residue that are used, involves applying an asphalt binder and then embedding it with fine aggregate.

The work will be performed on Highland Avenue, from Siskiyou Boulevard to East Main Street, on Sage Road, from McAndrews Road to Rossanley Drive, and on Siskiyou Boulevard, from East 10th Street to Murphy Road.

As part of the paving of Main Street, the city will re-stripe the roadway to create a two-way bike lane on the south side of the street. Some details of the project are still being worked out.

This plan would eliminate one vehicle travel lane. Currently Main Street has three travel lanes.

Despite losing one travel lane, the downtown would net one extra parking space from the re-striping project.

The bike-lane proposal grew out of a study that lays the foundation for the city’s long-range plans to make the downtown more accessible and safer for cyclists.

Also, the traffic lights will be removed at the intersection of Main and Grape, and at Main and Fir. Main Street will have the right of way, with stop signs at Grape and at Fir. The lights have already been decommissioned, but have not been removed yet.

The Main Street bike lanes proposed by the city would have a buffer area on each side, with vehicles parking next to the travel-lane side and the curb on the other side. Parked vehicles would provide additional protection for cyclists.

Main Street has often been a topic of discussion for the city for the past 20 years. In 1970, 34,000 vehicles a day traveled on Main Street when it was part of Highway 238. Today, the number has dropped to an average of 10,000. Highway 238 was moved to Rossanley Drive, which lowered traffic numbers.

Local cyclists have endorsed the bike lane idea, but residents have generally voiced opposition to the project.

Both Main Street and McAndrews have cracks and uneven surfaces, and the work promises a smoother and safer roadway.

If the council approves the ordinances for the chip seal and paving projects, they will be included in the 2023-2025 city budget, which will be scheduled for consideration sometime in June.