Other work — including some projects by the city, ODOT and Jackson County — scheduled for later years

By Jim Flint for Ashland.news

While government’s wheels sometimes turn slowly — and yours sometimes feel the jolt of a pothole — Ashland drivers will be pleased to learn that major roadway improvements are in the works for the new year.

Several Ashland streets are set for rehabilitation, and two big public works projects are scheduled to be completed in 2024.

“A majority of public works projects are currently in the design phase, with a few at some level of construction,” Scott Fleury, Ashland public works director, told Ashland.news.

Some new projects will move from the design to the construction phase in 2024.

Ashland Street

Work that began in 2023 on Ashland Street will continue in 2024. The project involves constructing pavement and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramp upgrades between Siskiyou Boulevard and Faith Avenue.

“The project will also include protected bike lanes,” Fleury said, “as well as rectangular, rapid flashing beacon pedestrian crossings. The work is half complete and Knife River Materials expects to finish the paving portion in spring of 2024.”

ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation) has also been working on pedestrian safety improvements on Ashland Street, constructing higher order pedestrian crossings at YMCA Way and at Washington Street where each intersects with Ashland Street.

North Main Street

ODOT finished the first phase in 2023 of ADA ramp upgrades on North Main Street and Siskiyou Boulevard. The second phase is currently in the design stage.

“They will be constructing new ramps on North Main at Maple Street, Grant Street, and on Lithia Way at Pioneer Street and 2nd Street,” Fleury said.

The city’s capital plan outlines all major roadway needs for the next few years.

North Mountain

“Currently we are in the design process for North Mountain Avenue for the section between East Main Street and (Interstate 5),” Fleury said. “We plan to move into construction during the summer of 2024.”

Oak Street

After North Mountain, the city will begin rehabilitation work on Oak Street from the city limits all the way to Lithia Way. Design work on that project will begin in late 2024 or early 2025, with construction planned for a year after.

Middle Clay Street

The city, in coordination with Jackson County, has received grant funding to improve Middle Clay Street from Siskiyou Boulevard to Faith Avenue.

“The project will bring that section of county road up to city standards with sidewalk, lighting, storm drain, a new pavement section, and ADA improvements,” Fleury said. “We expect to begin design and right-of-way work in 2024, with construction occurring in 2025 or 2026 at the earliest.”

Siskiyou Boulevard

New asphalt, ADA updates and bicycle safety improvements are slated for Siskiyou Boulevard from East Main Street to Walker Avenue after the Oak Street project is designed.

Fleury said ODOT plans a project to rehab and pave Ashland Street from the overpass to the Interstate.

“It’s their section of that roadway, and it’s currently scheduled for construction in 2025,” he said.

North Main Street

One project that didn’t make the ODOT schedule for 2023 was North Main Street, which is in need of rehabilitation.

“There is no new news there,” Fleury said. “I believe ODOT is still working towards a pavement maintenance project in 2024 or 2025.”

Interchange work

Fleury said work went smoothly in 2023 on the interchange surfaces. One goal was to plan for the possible need to evacuate during the construction period.

“Our staff and Kelly Burns, the city’s emergency manager, coordinated with the contractor and ODOT to make sure concerns were addressed,” he said. “ODOT and the contractors were ready to do anything needed to support evacuation. This will be a standard practice moving forward for city and ODOT projects that occur on major roadways.”

Wastewater treatment

Two projects at the wastewater treatment plant will transform how the facility operates.

The plant’s outfall relocation project is substantially complete. The city is awaiting approval from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to start using the new outfall.

“This project relocates the current outfall at Ashland Creek to Bear Creek near Ashland Pond,” Fleury said.

Another wastewater treatment plant project, improvements to the ultraviolet light disinfection system, is nearing completion.

Fleury said it will save the city some money.

“Not only does the improvement cover a life cycle replacement of the existing UV system, it also provides for energy savings by transitioning from high-pressure to medium-pressure UV lights,” he said.

Reach writer Jim Flint at [email protected].