The Newberg Graphic
| 219 will get major makeover | ||||
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| Intersection closures, road extensions and traffic signal installation ahead | ||||
A dangerous five-way intersection on Highway 219 has begun to undergo a transformation that should increase driver safety along the highway. The complicated intersection of Highway 219 with Wilsonville, Springbrook and Sandoz roads has ranked in the top 10 percent of crash sites on the Oregon Department of Transportation Region 2 safety priority index system (SPIS) for several years, an ODOT publication said. The Highway 219 intersection with Wynooski and Adolph roads also has a high crash rate. The project, begun this month, will change both of those intersections, as well as the Highway 219 intersection with Ninth Street. The Highway 219 intersections with Springbrook/Wilsonville and Sandoz roads and with Ninth Street will all be completely closed off, and traffic will be rerouted through a four-way intersection that will be created north of Ninth Street. The new intersection (Highway 219 and Industrial Parkway) will feature a four-way traffic signal. A raised median will be installed north of the intersection, and u-turns will be permitted from the southbound left turn lane. Industrial Parkway will be continued to the east, where it will intersect Springbrook Road. Further south, the Highway 219 intersection with Adolph Road will be closed and turn lanes will be added on Wynooski Road at its intersection with the highway. "All of it's designed just to make the road safer," said ODOT spokesperson Adam Torgerson. "We're trying to get the (Highway 219 intersections) back to four-way, square, safest intersections." He said that improving these intersections has been on ODOT's radar for some time and the project was originally set to begin last construction season, but a delay in ordering essential components led to the postponement of the construction start date. The $7 million project is set to be completed by Oct. 31. Torgerson said he does not expect the project to cause significant traffic delays in the construction area. ODOT is permitted to have one lane closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and again in the evening, but will not close any lanes during rush hour, he said. ODOT will perform most of the work at night, when lane closures will be required for excavating, grinding and paving the roadway, the project description said. Specific closure dates will be posted at the project. "We try really hard to make sure that when we impact the community, we do it with the least impact possible," Torgerson said, explaining that the project leader went to "more effort than usual" to connect with the community on this project, attending city council and planning commission meetings and meeting with affected property owners and residents. Some properties will be affected by the realignment of Wilsonville and Springbrook roads with an address change. Address changes and notification will be accomplished by the city or by Yamhill County, depending on the jurisdiction of the affected property. | ||||
