ROSEBURG, Ore. (KMTR) -- Officials at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) say the Highway 42 Expressway was given one of the lowest safety ratings in the state last year. The stretch between
Lookingglass Road and I-5 Exit 119 has some of the highest numbers of car accidents and fatalities in the state.
That's why an improvement plan has been in the works for over two years now. ODOT has been working with the community and the local government to try to pinpoint what improvements can be made to meet expressway standards. The two main groups ODOT has focused on are freight companies and residents in the area.
"The freight community wanted to make sure that the corridor stayed efficient, that they can get through the corridor and get to I-5 in an efficient manner," says Thomas Guevara Jr., a Senior Transportation Planner with ODOT. "We also had safety [concerns] from the community. Many of the residents were concerned with some of the accidents that occurred at Kelly's Corner, at the Grange intersection."
The community is encouraged to review the draft of the Highway 42 Expressway Management plan at Wednesday night's open house. Project managers from ODOT will be at the Green School Annex at 4544 Carnes Road, from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Wednesday, January 9.
ODOT says one big reason they want the local community to come to the open house is that the plan could affect the driveways of some residents. As for now, no official construction plans have been made.
