Oregon 140 Roundabout, Foothill Road extension open house June 4
May 29, 2019 R3-15-19
WHITE CITY – The public is invited to a drop-in open house on the Oregon 140 Roundabout and Foothill Road extension on Tuesday, June 4 from 4 - 6:30 p.m. at the White City Library, 3143 Avenue C.
Beginning next spring, Jackson County plans to extend Foothill Road north from Corey Road to Atlantic Avenue in White City. At the new intersection with Oregon 140 (Lake of the Woods Highway), ODOT will construct a roundabout to accommodate traffic. To the east, the Kershaw Road intersection will be changed to remove the option for traffic to cross the highway. However, left turns from Oregon 140 to Kershaw Road will remain.
ODOT representatives will be available to answer questions about the roundabout, while Jackson County staff will be on hand to discuss the Foothill Road improvements and a related legalization process for Foothill Road right-of- way.
The Foothill Road extension and improvements will include two travel lanes (one northbound and one southbound lane), turn lanes at Corey Road and seven-foot shoulders.
The Oregon 140 roundabout will feature dual lanes on the south and east legs due to the large number of turning vehicles. Oregon 140 at that location features nearly as many vehicles crossing at Kershaw Road as on the highway.
So why a roundabout and not a signal?
“We get a lot of requests to put in a signal,” said ODOT Traffic Standards Engineer Kevin Haas.
“But signals don’t necessarily make intersections safer. When we look at historical data, on average, about half the crashes at signalized intersections involve injuries and fatalities.”
In designing a roundabout, engineers install visual cues to help drivers recognize the change ahead. In addition to signs, there is a curve designed to gradually slow traffic to about 30 MPH. Passing is not allowed and drivers entering a roundabout are required to yield to other vehicles.
“Roundabouts really are the only tool we have for at-grade intersections that effectively reduce or eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes,” said Haas.
Contact ODOT’s Gary Leaming at 541-774-6388 about the Oregon 140 Roundabout
Contact Jackson Co. Engineer Mike Kuntz, 541-774-6228, regarding Foothill Road and right of way
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