Greenway Progress

We are working on this 30 mile greenway project from all directions. Some work is happening in Grants Pass, some in Gold Hill and Rogue River and more in Central Point. Not all areas connect yet but we are working on it. We move ahead with what we can and are working through challenges in other areas. Our goal is to have an off roadways seperated trail where we can but since that is not always possible, there are parts that include widened shoulders/bikelanes on the roadway.

In the list that follows you will see gaps and those are the areas we are working on or are planning to work on in the near future. From our humble beginnings in 2004 we have raised over $6 million dollars in funds (grants, donations, in-kind). Twelve (12) miles of the thirty (30) is either completed, in the process of being built or the funding has been secured for development and it is in the planning stages. Note: This includes 2 miles of bike lanes through downtown Gold Hill that the City of Gold Hill completed.

There are a few items of concern we would like to address: we are doing no condemnation or “takings” of private property – we only deal with willing sellers or we will work to widen the shoulders and add bike lanes to the public roadway. It is not ideal but that is how it is in some locations when there is no alternative. If you have questions or concerns PLEASE pick up the phone or email us directly, we are happy to share with you what are doing. The following is an update on what has been accomplished to date starting from the Grants Pass end moving toward Central Point and the Bear Creek Greenway Connection at Dean Creek Road:

1: In Grants Pass at Tom Pearce Park, a group of dedicated greenway supporters worked with Josephine County Parks and secured an OPRD Recreational Trails grant for approx. $156,000.00 to build the greenway through the park towards the City of Rogue River. Work is currently underway.

2: The greenway trailhead at the Depot Street Bridge in Rogue River was opened officially in September 2007 but only the trail itself was built. The drinking fountain, pet station, signs, irrigation and landscaping of the first trailhead is now complete thanks to grants from State Farm Insurance, The Four Way Foundation, Pacific Power and Light and Clorox Greenworks as well as the generous donations from the community and the City of Rogue River. A big thank you to all who volunteered on October 3rd to help us plant over 1000 plants.
– see photo album for more details

3: As many of you are aware 1 mile of paved trail has been completed from Wards Creek into Valley of the Rogue State Park. This section is heavily used and enjoyed by all ages. Construction to complete the rest of this trail segment 2.5 miles through the State Park is set to start this Spring 2010 and will include the engineered trail over Wards Creek as well. Thanks to State Parks for their efforts to secure an ODOT TE Grant for $986,000.00 and for their willingness to secure the match funds. This piece has been a long time coming and we are all very excited to see it completed.

4: ODOT has completed the section of Greenway trail leaving Valley of the Rogue State Park by the boat launch area going under I-5 on Twin Bridges Road. Islands have also been added by the freeway off ramp and stop signs are in the works for the bike/ped crossings both at the boat launch and at the freeway off ramp intersection. Thanks to OPRD and ODOT Bikeways for the grant funds to make this possible.

5: $375,000 has been secured from ODOT Bikeways for a section of Greenway trail within the Jackson County road right of way along North River Road between the Silica Mine and Del Rio Vineyards/Rock Pt. Bridge. We still need to raise additional funds to complete this section as current funding doesn’t cover it. This project is currently the planning stages.

6: The section of trail from Del Rio Vineyards, under Rock Point Bridge, down to and over Sardine Creek has been funded thanks to OPRD and the Rogue Valley Council of Governments successful efforts to secure an ODOT TE grant for approx. $1.5 million dollars to complete the project. Construction will likely not start until 2011/12 as it is for that grant funding cycle.

7: The Upper River Road area up to the second rail crossing along the paved roadway close to Gold Hill is being reviewed and a Solutions Team is being formed of residents, recreational users, greenway, government and agencies to work through the challenges of this area.

8: The Gold Ray Road area near Gold Ray Dam that no doubt you have read about, has been resolved and a trail plan agreed to through the Solutions Team process. All agree that the road should remain open.

9: At the corner of Gold Ray Road and Blackwell Road, Jackson County left the old vehicle bridge for greenway use when they built the new vehicle bridge. We are working with the Jackson County on the necessary improvements needed to make it safe and functional. We are also working with PP&L at the turn from Blackwell onto Gold Ray Road.

10: Kirtland Road near Blackwell Road intersection. ODOT, Jackson County and the Greenway Foundation have received an ODOT grant for $1 million dollars to include a bike/ped underpass under the new Expressway that is being built in that area. Construction is proposed for 2010. We are currently working on connecting the new underpass with the Blackwell Bridge.

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