A realignment of Coker Butte Road and Highway 62 and supplemental work on the Ashland overpasses are included in a draft proposal for the state transportation program.

The projects are among five in Jackson and Josephine counties totalling $14 million that are being proposed for the 2008-11 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The Oregon Department of Transportation will present the draft document and seek public comment, at an open house from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Central Library in Medford.

In hopes of easing a traffic bottleneck in northeast Medford, transportation planners are pitching a $5.9 million realignment of Coker Butte Road. If approved, East Coker Butte would be moved north to align with west Coker Butte at Highway 62, and a traffic signal would be placed at the intersection.

The project also would shift the portion of Crater Lake Avenue at the intersection further east, away from Crater Lake Highway, so that the parallel roads no longer have intersections that are considered dangerously close.

It's all part of a larger plan to improve circulation in the northeast part of town, a plan that will be implemented piece by piece, according to Cory Crebbin, public works director.

"This whole thing is too expensive to do at once," he said, adding that connecting Springbrook Road and Owen Drive is also part of the discussion.

Transportation planners also hope to move the traffic signal at Cardinal Avenue in front of Costco south to Owen Drive, and continue Owen Drive across the highway into the retail parking lot, he said.

Former Ashland mayor Alan DeBoer, who has remained on the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation as a citizen, said he opposes moving the signal from Cardinal to Owen because it will eliminate left-turn lanes into many businesses along the highway and is a "poor design."

"I don't think the businesses there have had notification of what's happening," he said.

The other proposed STIP projects in Jackson County include:

• $1.5 million to provide signals, sidewalks and roadway lighting on the Interstate 5 overpass at Exit 14 north Ashland, which is set to be replaced within the next five years.
• $1.5 million to provide signals, sidewalks and roadway lighting on the Interstate 5 overpass at Exit 19 south Ashland, which is set to be replaced within the next five years.

Art Anderson, ODOT area manager, said the replacement of the overpasses in Ashland is already funded with Oregon Transportation Investment Act money.

In Josephine County, STIP projects include:

• $4.5 million for improvements to Highway 199 from Allen Creek east to Tussey.
• $600,000 to study solutions to operational and safety problems at the Grants Pass South Y.

Mike Montero, chairman of the RVACT, said there are criteria for a project to be considered for the transportation program.

"Improving safety is always first, then after that, does it support the state system, and how does it benefit the community?" he said.

He said even though the draft document already has undergone extensive planning, public input at this stage is critical.

"It's certainly not beyond the realm of possibilities that someone could raise an issue that no one thought about," he said.

The public review period continues through November. Public comments can be e-mailed to ODOT STIP coordinator Michael Baker at michael.baker@odot.state.or.us.

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.