Preliminary work begins on next phase of I-5/Beltline improvements

 

March 25 2013                                                     For more information: Rick Little (541) 726-2442

03-69-R2                                                             email at: mailto:richard.little@odot.state.or.us 

                                                                          

 

Construction activity begins for next phase of I-5/Beltline improvements in Eugene/Springfield

 

EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD— The next phase of improvements for the Interstate 5/Randy Papé Beltline (OR 569) interchange will begin this week as a contractor for ODOT begins placing traffic control signs in the area. Construction will begin the week of April 1.

 

I-5/Beltline Unit 3 is a two-year project funded by the 2009 Jobs and Transportation Act (HB 2001), approved by the Oregon Legislature. K & E Excavating, Inc., of Salem was awarded the low-bid contract of $13.368 million. Construction is scheduled for completion in November, 2014.

 

This is the third phase of improvements to make the interchange safer and more efficient. In 2013 and 2014, the project will construct:

• A new southbound I-5 to westbound Beltline off-ramp.
• A new southbound I-5 to eastbound Beltline off-ramp.
• A new westbound Beltline to southbound I-5 on-ramp
• A new Beltline Bridge over I-5 with two additional eastbound lanes
• A new dedicated right turn lane for eastbound Beltline to southbound Gateway
• Base construction and structures for a new multi-use path to connect south of the interchange to north of the interchange. The path is to open upon completion of Unit 4 in 2016.

 

 

Impacts to traffic during construction

 

The I-5/Randy Papé Pape Beltline interchange is one of the most heavily travelled interchanges in the Eugene/Springfield area. ODOT estimates an average of 97,360 vehicles travel through the interchange each day.

Clearly, a major construction project will have an impact on many motorists.   However, ODOT and the contractor are committed to staging the construction in such a way as to minimize impact, including doing much of the work at night.

 

New Beltline bridge over I-5

A new bridge over I-5 is a major component of this project. The new bridge will be 16’10” tall, allowing over dimension freight loads to travel easily through the I-5 corridor.

 

One of the first priorities of the contractor will be to build a temporary bridge over I-5. This will allow Beltline traffic to shift to the north while the contractor demolishes part of the old bridge and builds part of the new one to the south.   Once that occurs, traffic will shift to the south and demolition and construction will begin on the northern bridge segment.

 

It is important to know that there will be two lanes of travel in both directions on Beltline at all times during the project.

 

During demolition and construction of the bridge, I-5 traffic will also be affected. Nighttime lane closures and diversions will occur regularly, but will result in short, if any, delays for motorists.

 

New southbound I-5 off-ramp to eastbound Beltline---and a new signal

Another impact motorists will experience will be a new, temporary southbound I-5 off-ramp to eastbound Beltline. It will be built generally in the same area that the permanent ramp will be located, but it will be put in place early in the project.

 

One of the biggest traffic control changes that motorists will experience both during the project and after completion is a new traffic signal where the southbound I-5 off-ramp meets Beltline. This will be a second signal on Beltline and will be west of the bridge over I-5. The two signals will be timed to promote the most efficient travel for east/west motorists.

 

New westbound Beltline to southbound I-5 ramp

During construction of the new ramp to southbound I-5 from westbound Beltline, nighttime closures of the existing ramp will be necessary.

 

During these nighttime closures, the detour will take motorists west on Beltline to Coburg Road, then south to the eastbound Beltline on-ramp, then east to I-5 southbound.

 

Modification to the I-5 northbound on-ramp

Because the new Beltline bridge over I-5 will allow a greater vertical clearance, the bridge’s alignment with the I-5 on-ramp from eastbound Beltline will need to be adjusted.

This will necessitate complete nighttime closures of the ramp.

 

During the closures, motorists will be directed to a detour onto northbound Gateway, then to Game Farm Road, then west to Coburg Road, then north to Pearl Street in City of Coburg, then east to I-5.

 

Know Before you Go

Motorists will have several options for getting up-to-date travel information on the project. ODOT’s Web site, www.tripcheck.com will list any impacts to the I-5/Beltline interchange.

 

Point-2-Point Solutions will offer the latest road delay information and any bike route impacts for the Gateway area on www.keepusmoving.info.

 

To learn more about the project, visit the project website: http://oregonjta.org/region2/?p=i5-beltline&expandable=3

 

 

More improvements to come

 

A fourth phase of improvements to the I-5/Beltline interchange is also funded through the 2009 Jobs and Transpiration Act.

 

As part of the estimated $40 million I-5/Beltline Unit 4, watch for construction in 2015 and 2016 that will build:

• A new eastbound Beltline auxiliary lane from Coburg Road to southbound I-5 on ramp
• A new southbound I-5 auxiliary lane from Beltline Hwy to I-105
• A new eastbound Beltline to northbound I-5 on-ramp, including a structure over I-5
• A new Harlow Bridge over I-5
• Completion of the multi-use path   partially constructed in Unit 3
• A sound wall south of Beltline and east of Coburg Road
• A sound wall west of I-5, south of Harlow Road and north of I-105
• Noise studies for the replacement of the Harlow Bridge and noise mitigation as warranted.

 

 

Note to Media: Due to safety concerns, this project will not be able to accommodate casual visits by reporters or photographers. All media will need to be escorted during construction and a safety briefing will be mandatory before all media visits. Appropriate footwear and safety clothing will also be mandatory. Some safety equipment will be provided. Safety briefings and escorts can be scheduled through the ODOT PIO. Thank you.

 

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