Purpose
The South Stage Road Extension Plan Project aims to:
- Reduce out-of-direction travel by improving east-west multimodal connectivity across Interstate 5 (I-5).
- Reduce existing and projected congestion and related traffic safety issues in the vicinity of the I-5 interchanges with Garfield Street, North Phoenix Road, and the adjacent local street network.
- Support local system improvements associated with current and planned land uses, as well as improved emergency preparedness in the rapidly urbanizing areas of South Medford and North Phoenix, Oregon.
Needs
The following transportation needs (problems) have been identified:
- I-5 creates a barrier to local east-west travel that limits local road connectivity, resulting in out-of-direction travel and poor east-west travel times.
- Lack of east-west connectivity across I-5 is a primary contributor to congestion and traffic safety issues at the existing interchanges and the local roads accessing the interchanges.
- Improved east-west arterial connectivity is needed to support planned growth in the Medford and Phoenix urban growth reserves.