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Merchants worry about Highway 99W access

News | Wed, 04/22/2009 - 3:10 pm | Read 4283 | Commented 16 | Emailed 0
Tags: Highway 99W, McMinnville, ODOT, Traffic

Only a handful of residents, mostly business owners, attended a Tuesday night meeting by the state Department of Transportation to talk about the revamping Highway 99W's intersections with McDonald and McDaniel lanes.

As the city has grown and extended north, a system built to serve farm vehicles with a few cars mixed in has become inadequate for a flow of 28,000 vehicles a day, Project Leader Jim Cook said.

In the last five years, there have been 96 crashes at or near the two intersections, putting them in the 5 percent in ODOT's Region 2, he said. And they have been in the top 10 percent since 2002, he said.

Most crashes have been rear-enders or sideswipes caused by vehicles trying to enter and leave business driveways.

To help solve the problem, the state plans to close several driveways, widen the turn radius at all four corners of the McDonald intersection and synchronize the McDonald, McDaniel and 27th Street signals. If it can obtain the funds, it will also synchronize the Grandhaven signal.

Business owners said they understand the safety concerns, but said they have some worries of their own.

The owners of Fjelland Flooring and the Shell gas station said they feared closing driveways would hamper delivery trucks. The Shell owners also said losing a Highway 99W access might put too much pressure on its McDonald Lane access, particularly as vehicles line up for car wash services.

The entire group moved to a wall where ODOT engineers had taped large photos and diagrams and began discussing possible solutions with road engineer George Kuforiji. Melissa Mallott, a right of way specialist, told the business owners the state does have some funds to mitigate impacts from highway improvement projects.

Cook told the group the state wants to hear about any potential problems now, while there's still time to address them.

He said the state plans to put the project out for bid in the fall of 2010 and finish work by the summer of 2011.

Print | Email Updated 1 year 18 weeks ago

Comments (16)

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Wed, 04/29/2009 - 3:27pm - Posted by: mattyboy4u

s"Mathew, Or do you prefer mattyboy4u?"

Actually Matthew with 2 t's works fine for me.

"I encourage you to post your opinion and I will even defend your right to do so. It is just funny when you make such a long winded post like you solved some giant mystery. Congrats Columbo, those Hardy Boys books paid off. Or was it Wikipedia?"

I'm glad to hear you encourage it because it's gonna keep coming. And it was neither Hardy Boys books, nor Wikipedia, actually. Just a search engine :). But guessing you had to get it from somewhere. I just tend to like to know who I'm talking to.

"The reason I do not put my real name on this forum is to protect my home and family. I would suspect that there are people on this forum that would like to know where my home is located. I do not wish to put my family at risk because I voiced my opinion. If something happened to my wife , kids, or pets....I just couldn't handle it.There are some really crazy people out there! I'm sure you would recognize them from your meetings."

Well I would really hope that from how much you post you actually know how many crazy people are really out there, and yes I am well aware myself. Of course I don't attend meetings, at all, and even though the statement is a rebuttal from my last post, is more than just an opinion buddy boy. But I'm sure if ya actually met me or knew who I am you would know that that statement would just be considered absurd. And sorry for pasting you're message on here for reference to my answers but this way just makes things a little easier to answer each statement individually.

"I would like to pose a question to you:
Is it more important that I state my honest thoughts, feelings, and opinions under an alias and give you an opportunity for rebuttal. Or is it more important that I post fluff, and smiley face crap that people would never read under my real name? Please don't say that people don't read my posts because we both know that isn't true, especially in your case. Even if it is just for a laugh or to get PO'd they read it.
Dont worry buddy boy, I will never stop my carnival."

I think its great that you post honest feeling, thoughts, and opinions. If only everyone would, I think things would go a lot smoother for everyone if they didn't post fluff, and smiley face crap. But having an alias to me is almost (in my opinion here, so don't get offended by this) as if talking besides somebody's back. But that's just me. Otherwise I'm glad to know that you are taking the steps to protect your family. Guess its not the old days anymore. But don't worry buddy boy, got a wife and 2 kids of my own, and don't think for a second that I wouldn't do the same. But it's the same everywhere, not just online, and we can't have alias's all through life. But again, just my opinion, take it how you will.

"Say this next line out loud for me:
Don't stop the carnival."

Hey just to make ya feel better, DONT STOP THE CARNIVAL

Wed, 04/29/2009 - 12:45am - Posted by: Norman Paperman

Mathew, Or do you prefer mattyboy4u?

I encourage you to post your opinion and I will even defend your right to do so. It is just funny when you make such a long winded post like you solved some giant mystery. Congrats Columbo, those Hardy Boys books paid off. Or was it Wikipedia?

The reason I do not put my real name on this forum is to protect my home and family. I would suspect that there are people on this forum that would like to know where my home is located. I do not wish to put my family at risk because I voiced my opinion. If something happened to my wife , kids, or pets....I just couldn't handle it.There are some really crazy people out there! I'm sure you would recognize them from your meetings.

I would like to pose a question to you:
Is it more important that I state my honest thoughts, feelings, and opinions under an alias and give you an opportunity for rebuttal. Or is it more important that I post fluff, and smiley face crap that people would never read under my real name? Please don't say that people don't read my posts because we both know that isn't true, especially in your case. Even if it is just for a laugh or to get PO'd they read it.
Dont worry buddy boy, I will never stop my carnival.

Say this next line out loud for me:
Don't stop the carnival.

Sat, 04/25/2009 - 11:20am - Posted by: mattyboy4u

Well I would refrain from posting but following your own "wise words" and I quote "I am just an American citizen posting my opinion on a puplic forum. Is that ok with you?"

Sat, 04/25/2009 - 9:10am - Posted by: Norman Paperman

That sure is a long winded post on me. How are you going to ignore me when I am the topic of your post? Please, either take your own advice or refrain from posting.

Don't stop the carnival.

Sat, 04/25/2009 - 2:03am - Posted by: mattyboy4u

Kinda makes me wonder, as to why the editor of this newspaper would want names on here but at the same time is so easy to just put some random name. Norman, which I'm guessing is a Jimmy Buffet fan, and seeing as how his "tag" (don't stop the carnival (which yes may seem annoying, but as long as this is the USA we still have freedom of speech)) is also a title of a book, and also the name of a Jimmy Buffet album. Kinda funny tho how much time is wasted in each forum just to bash on each other still after many attempts by the editor and more, to get people to focus (I know its a pretty deep concept there) on the article on hand and not so much peoples opinions. Its kind of like the annoying person in class, the best way to get him/her to stop being so annoying is to just ignore them all together. But once again probably a hard concept. Anyways, my thoughts for the night. Have fun all and try to keep to the article at hand and while people may rather post comments than go into the community and lend a hand, everyone is different and that's the way god made us (uh oh I spoke about religion and god this day in age, i'm really in trouble now!) So please Mr. Paperman, or jimmy buffet fan, or good book reader, please don't stop the carnival.

Fri, 04/24/2009 - 7:43pm - Posted by: Norman Paperman

Hi Aaron, (or do you prefer Fleadog?)

I know you said you dont care either way. What do you think would happen to Yamhill county if they acutally built the bypass? Do you think it would spawn economic growth? I do.

*insert despised tag line here*
Don't stop the carnival.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 8:02pm - Posted by: Fleadog

Hey Stormin Normin, I am not claiming to right or wrong just sharing what I know about why ODOT scrapped the bypass idea last time around. Believe me or not, I dont care either way. It dose not matter if Obama gives ODOT all the funds in the world to build the Dundee bypass, it is not about money only, you gotta get the land owners on board and there is tons of legal red tape that could kill such a project before it gets off the ground. If you want good up to date info look and ye shall find. I think you probably don't care enough and will only wait to bad mouth the situation when it goes south again. Don't stop the carnival, but stop the stupid tag lines.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 7:58pm - Posted by: SomeDumbGuy

Not do diminish any need of attention to the named intersections, I feel that the intersection of 2nd St. and Adams, or the southbound lanes of 99W if you will, could do with an upgrade. How many readers have attempted to make a left onto Adams, only to have to wait for several cycles of the traffic light because there is no "turn on arrow" light? With this being one of only 3 routes from the West side of town to the East, there are often a dozen cars coming from the west, not to mention the new merging traffic coming from that shiny new police station, and I feel that it is high time to make a change.
While I'm on the soapbox, why not make the lights that cross the highway at 12th St. blink, starting at 10:30pm, like they do downtown? There can't be enough cross traffic late at night that a blinking red light wouldn't handle.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 3:12pm - Posted by: Christy Nielsen

In response to Raymundo Rockefeller, I am not telling anyone to stop posting in this forum. I am merely posting my thoughts in response, to what I perceive to be, half-witted comments.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:18pm - Posted by: Raymundo Rockefeller

Why is Christy from the News Register posting comments urging readers not to comment? Seems a bit odd to me that she is picking on Norman yet I don't recall a post from her defending Paul when he was being unfairly criticized on his reporting of the Cape Kiwanda tragedy. Curious.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 3:35pm - Posted by: Norman Paperman

Hi Christy! Whats up with me? I am just an American citizen posting my opinion on a puplic forum. Is that ok with you? Is it maybe ok that we dont agree? Why do you make a comment on a highway 99 article about volunteer work? You dont make much sense, Im sure that isn't the first time you have heard that.
You cannot solve a problem until it has been indentified, strange concept huh?

Oh and by the way you shouldnt let my signature line "Don't stop the carnival" bother you so much it is the title of a very good book.

Don't stop the carnival.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 10:49am - Posted by: Christy Nielsen

Normal Paperman - what's up with you? I am not going to argue politics with you here - that would be a huge waste of time.

PLEASE STOP THE CARNIVAL and stop pointing the finger at others and lend a helping hand in your community. Check out the Volunteer Fair this Saturday at the community center from 10 am - 3 pm. Be part of a solution, not someone continually pointing out the problems.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 9:35am - Posted by: Norman Paperman

Aaron,

Oh ,Well I see. If your landlord told you about it a few years back, you must be right. What a simplistic and ridiculous statement, Fleadog. Where can I find such a good source of up to date information?

Don't stop the carnival.

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 7:30am - Posted by: witch_Baby333@hotmail.com

less accidents sounds good. if in involves paving though, the city should hire a company that will improve the roads not make urban four bying trails like the one down west second:)

Thu, 04/23/2009 - 3:42am - Posted by: Fleadog

Come on Norman, that is a simplistic and ridiculous statement. My landlord was a project manager for the first go around a few years back, so I was privy to alot of discouraging info concerning the dealings with the bypass. If the people only knew the mountain of crap and rich land owners around the Dundee area that had to be delt and what they demanded, they would be dumbfounded. Building roads across someones land when they have enough money to hire a good full time lawyer just to fight you, is not easy.