Woodburn Independent Online

ODOT will not have to purchase right-of-way in Hubbard sidewalk project

Hubbard Councilor Bruce Warner said he is happy about the proposed changes

• By: Rachel Cavanaugh  
• Published: 2/16/2010 9:32:07 AM

Photo By: Rachel CavanaughBruce Warner

HUBBARD — Project managers with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) say they have come up with a way to avoid any right-of-way acquisitions on Hubbard’s Highway 99E sidewalk project.
 
According to ODOT representative Candice Stich, crews can put the sidewalk over the current ditch and run storm water underneath, eliminating the need to expand the highway.
 
The announcement marks a notable shift in direction for the project, which has been stalled since ODOT said it needed to widen the highway by 10 feet on each side, cutting into private homes and businesses.
 
“I do not know where this change (came from) or how it came about, but I’m not going to argue with it,” said Councilor Bruce Warner.
 
“I’m not going to question it because it’s now back in line really close to what our original grant proposal request was. The fact that they’re not doing any right-of-way purchases now takes the $350,000 budgeted for right-of-way and puts it on the construction side,” Warner said.
 
Warner said the extra money can go to things like sidewalk lighting or aesthetic upgrades.
 
“I am just so happy,” said Warner. “We’ve come a long way. Through communication and talks we’ve managed to come up with an agreeable, acceptable, visually nice project and we’re going to get some of the stuff we were originally looking for.”
 
Originally, the plan was to leave the ditch open and put the sidewalk to the side, which would have meant significant widening between the Bobcat West tractor dealer and Elm Street.
 
The new plan, in addition to appeasing business and property owners, will move the project forward at least a year because it skips the process of acquiring land, which takes about 14 months.
 
Warner said the work could be done as soon as this summer. Before, it was slated for 2011.
 
Stich presented the new design at a Feb. 6 city council meeting, during which councilors expressed their support for the project moving forward.
 
“We emphatically implored them to continue with the project as they have now proposed it to us,” said Warner. “The new proposal, we are all in favor of … (we) gave them the go-ahead to continue with everything.
 
“We’re going to get our sidewalks where we wanted them to begin with,” he added.

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