About the Project
Allen Creek Road between West Harbeck and Denton Trail is currently a two-lane rural road with narrow shoulders and no bicycle or pedestrian facilities. The connecting roadways to the north and south of this section are already improved, and this section creates a gap without safe sidewalks or bicycle facilities. Today, the roadway is barricaded at Denton Trail which leads to a large amount of out of direction travel in the area.
The Allen Creek Road Improvements Project will bring this section of roadway up to city standards with improvements that include:
- Wider travel lanes
- New sidewalks
- Wider shoulders with bicycle facilities
- Traffic calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds
The project will create a safer and smoother roadway for drivers and improved safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Schedule
- Project Design: Winter 2022 – Summer 2023
- Construction: Winter 2024
(Schedule is subject to change.)
To learn more, view our fact sheet here: Allen Creek Road Fact Sheet (1.9 MB)
Project Area
What’s happening now?
This winter, the project team will continue to work with neighbors on issues related to property lines and right of way impacts.
The roadway plans will be refined through fall 2023 and construction is currently planned for 2024. Look for more information about the updated plans in summer 2023.
Click to enlarge. Estimated dates are tentative and subject to change.
What will this project do?
This project will upgrade the section of Allen Creek Road between West Harbeck Road and Denton Trail to arterial standards. Improvements will include restriping and expanding the footprint of the street to include two travels lanes, a center turn lane, shoulders and bicycle facilities, and sidewalks.
Why is this project necessary?
The Allen Creek Road Improvement Project has several goals:
- Improve pedestrian, cyclist, and driver safety.
- Create a more walkable and bikeable street.
- Connect important roads and improve access to the city
- Take advantage of available federal funding that will reduce costs to the local community.
Who is managing this project?
The City of Grants Pass owns the road and will be coordinating with Josephine County and utilities to complete the project. The project is funded through state and federal grants with a local match that are administered by ODOT.
How much will this project cost?
The project is funded from a combination of local and federal sources. The local cost is approximately $3.3M, with an additional $7.0M provided by state and federal sources.
Find out more information on ODOT's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
Where did the roadway design come from?
The roadway design was developed based on public feedback and is similar to other arterial streets in Grants Pass. Although some details, such as tree wells, landscape strips, and traffic calming features have been changed from earlier versions, the overall roadway width is the same and is consistent with Allen Creek Road to the north of Harbeck Road and south of Denton Trail.
Is this the final design?
No. As of August 2022, the proposed design includes enough details to know the size of the new road and to understand impacts to utilities and properties. While some features have not been designed yet and some details are likely to change before the design is finalized, it is still important to receive comments and feedback as soon as possible to ensure that the project remains on time and under budget.
Will this project change the intersection of Allen Creek and New Hope Road?
No. Intersection improvements were eliminated from this project after a traffic study determined that the intersection didn’t warrant a traffic signal within the planning horizon. Eliminating this work also helped to keep the cost of the project lower.
How will the road affect utilities?
The project team has been coordinating with utility providers and the new design accommodates existing utilities as much as possible. Any utilities that will be impacted by construction - including private utilities such as irrigation lines - will be relocated.
What will happen to driveways, trees, and structures that are next to the road?
The project will rebuild one driveway per property to provide street access. Some trees, fences, mailboxes, and other structures that are too close to the road will need to be removed (see the map inside for more information). If this is necessary, property owners will be contacted individually about specific impacts. By law, all property must be purchased at fair market value and property owners will have access to any information used in the appraisal process.
How will the new design help slow down traffic?
The new road will use a slight curve, center medians, slightly narrower (10-foot) lane striping and buffered bike lanes to help reduce vehicle speed. These features still allow space for bikes and larger vehicles but will help slow down traffic because the road won’t feel as wide.
Does the design include planters?
We have heard concerns from residents about planter maintenance, so the current design only uses tree wells, landscaping on some medians, and water quality swales that are required by environmental laws. The City will be responsible for maintaining these facilities.
When will construction begin?
Construction is currently planned for early 2024.
Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns?
See the contact us page for more information.
What We've Heard
The City has been meeting with property owners along Allen Creek Road since early 2016. Through neighborhood meetings, open houses, and site visits, the City has heard public feedback about:
- Minimizing the roadway footprint,
- Reducing property impacts.
- Finding ways to slow down or mitigate impacts from increased traffic.
- Concerns about maintaining new planting areas.
- Construction impacts to utilities and irrigation lines.
The current roadway design has been updated to address many of these issues.
Meetings and Open Houses
Survey and Responses
Previous Design Maps
64' ROW Sections
68' ROW Sections
66' ROW Sections
For more information
Wade Elliott - Assistant Public Works Director, Grants Pass
welliott@grantspassoregon.gov, 541-450-6114