Venture helps access
By Larry Meyer - Argus Observer
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:43 PM PDT
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| This S-curve takes motorists through the midsection of the Stanton Boulevard extension, as it begins to drop toward the valley below and its new connection with Oregon Highway 201. |
ONTARIO - Motorists who use Stanton Boulevard now have another connection to Ontario.
The boulevard now connects directly to Oregon Highway 201 — adding a more accessible route to the Snake River Correctional Institution and Interstate 84 — after the completion of a project spearheaded by the Ontario Road District.
Like the bypass route around Ontario, the concept of connecting Stanton Boulevard to Oregon Highway 201 was about 40 years old or more, Jeff Wise, Ontario road district supervisor, said.
“It was revived in the mid-90’s and became part of the Malheur County Transportation Plan,” he said. A committee — created in 2000 — helped guide the three-phase project along. The committee consisted of representatives from the road district, the Malheur County Court, Oregon Department of Transportation, a county engineer and legal counsel along with a representative from Edwards and Cummings Engineering, which did the survey and design work on the project. Wise said the first part of the project added base work and paving of the Oak Road and Stanton Boulevard intersection.
The second part of the project included rebuilding about one-half mile of Stanton Boulevard, from Oak Road, east, and the third stage consisted of constructing about three-fourths of a mile of new roadway east to connect to Oregon Highway 201.
That major portion of the project included reaching agreements with owners of property along the new route, vegetation removal, fence realignment, and installation of a large culvert at Jacobsen Creek.
“The County Court contributed $40,000 from the county bridge fund (for the culvert),” Wise said.
With the Stanton Boulevard project going on at the same time as the North Ontario Interchange Project, road district officials were able to exchange and materials and work with Kerr Contractors which accelerated the project. Fill taken from the hill on the Stanton Boulevard project was used at the interchange.
“The road district would like to thank all that supported this project including the local property owners that were so patient with us and the whole process,” Wise said. He also gave kudos to the Rural Road District 3 patrons who funded a portion of the nearly half-million dollar project.
“They especially helped to make this a piece of the Malheur Transportation System a reality,” Wise said.
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