PLANNING STUDY UNDERWAY FOR I-5 EXITS 40 & 43 NEAR GOLD HILL
According to ODOT Senior Planner Tom Guevara, the success of a twoyear study for Interstate 5 Exits 40 and 43 near Gold Hill relies on public input.
Guevara said the IAMP is expected to be adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission in 2016. A public open house was held in October at the Gold Hill City Council Chambers. That presentation illustrated major concepts to extend and improve the turning radius at each ramp. The improvements could add up to as much as $10 million for Exit 40 improvements and $3.9 million for Exit 43 improvements.
The Interchange Area Management Plan helps guide future development. The IAMP develops preferred alternatives and proposed access control measures with the help of local, transportation stakeholders. These measures are designed to improve safety and We want to hear capacity over the from local business next 20 years.
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Plan development included a technical owners, property advisory committee “We want to hear consisting of owners, residents, and from local business representatives commuters who use owners, property from Gold Hill, these exits regularly. owners, residents, Jackson County and and commuters the Rogue Valley who use these exits Metropolitan Planning — ODOT Senior Planner Tom Guevara regularly,” said Guevara. Organization. Once the “The alternatives must plan is finalized it goes meet several requirements, before the city and county including a 20-year window to plan wfor adoption. for the needs and growth around A review of interchange ramp Exit 40 and Exit 43.” characteristics indicated inadequate Exit 40 provides access to Gold Hill acceleration and deceleration and outdoor recreation areas, while distances at all four I-5 Exit 40 ramps Exit 43 provides access to outdoor as well as the northbound and recreation areas and associated southbound off-ramps of Exit 43. The activities. The IAMP provides specific I-5 Exit 40 and 43 intersections are transportation improvement projects forecast to meet operational targets for future consideration based on in the future year (2038); however, current and future development near traffic safety and a multimodal the interchange. system that supports all forms of transportation are issues. “The IAMP evaluates the operation of the Exit 40 and 43 interchanges and “Although no funding is currently determines if there are any areas of allocated for the transportation concern, now or in the future,” said improvements identified in this IAMP, Guevara. “The plan also identifies the completion of the plan itself long-term needs based on planned brings these concepts much closer to development in the area.” reality,” said Guevara.
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