Chamber to conditionally support Del Rio interchange
By Dan Bain, KPIC NewsROSEBURG, Ore. -- The Roseburg Chamber of Commerce says it still supports the original interchange design at Del Rio Road, but also gave conditional support to another option that ODOT has proposed. The Chamber Board met Tuesday morning for nearly two hours to debate whether they wanted to support the ODOT plan to revamp the Del Rio Road interchange. The plan calls for re-locating the freeway overpass and lining it up with the entrance to College Road that goes to Umpqua Community College, but the chamber supported the original north plan, that they say would be far better for economic development in the area. Roseburg Chamber Director, Debbie Frombahl, said, "We took the position for one primary reason, and that was because of the proposed economic development that was going to occur with that design. It was the access that we were going to have to high quality industrial lands and it was also designed on a previous decision we made a month earlier in support of the Winchester switch yard." Chair of the Government Affairs Team, Dick Baltus, said the south option would have a severe impact on Douglas County Forest Products, and likely could cause them to close down, impacting more than 160 jobs. He says they can't support a project that would harm existing businesses. "It cannot have the dramatic effects that we currently believe it will have on both a major employer for this county, Douglas County Forest Products, and individual private property owners on the east side of (Hwy) 99, some of whom already have plans for development, that perhaps are on hold because of the economic climate right now. Our support of the project is contingent on all those issues being mitigated before going forward." Fromdahl said ODOT has indicated the lack of money and time are preventing them from exploring the original design, or another option that could address their concerns. Chamber officials say the board will send a letter to ODOT and other government officials, requesting that they pursue options for returning to the original interchange design. ODOT is worried that if it doesn't have the Chamber's support for the project, it won't be funded. |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV. Stay Connected |
Connect with KPICViewer PollMost Popular
|
KPIC, 655 W. Umpqua,