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ODOT
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simple -- merge later |
The state transportation agency changes the entrance
to Dundee in an effort to alleviate congestion |
By Gary Allen, Newberg
Graphic news editor
E-mail Gary at gallen@eaglenewspapers.com
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 If you’re a regular traveler west on Highway 99W from Newberg to
Dundee you have likely noticed something different of late — the configuration of the
road has changed.
For many decades, and especially since 99W became the main thoroughfare to
reach the Oregon coast, traffic has slowed down to a crawl as it approached Dundee. In the
summer and on just about any weekend, vehicles regular stack up back into Newberg, a
distance of more than two miles.
The problem is simple, really. The road funnels two fast-paced lanes into one
that slows to 25 mph as it winds through town. There is an exacerbating factor, though:
Motorists are being too nice. State law allows a driver in the righthand lane to advance
forward until the lane merges with the left. But motorists are merging much earlier,
causing increased congestion.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has tried several remedies,
the most recent widening the merging area and installing permanent traffic cones. Traffic
remain snarled.
“Ever since we widened a section of the southbound roadway to two lanes
we’ve used standard merge markings to end the outside lane and move vehicles into one
lane as your approach Dundee,” said Robert Flynn, ODOT regional traffic manager.
“During rush hour when there is more traffic than road capacity, the standard pattern
doesn’t work well in that particular location. So we decides to try something
different to shorten the traffic queues and improve safety.”
ODOT installed a new configuration several weeks ago to address the problem
— the lanes merge into one, as they did before, but they both merge now, whereas
before one merged into the other.
“The inside lane moves right a little and the outside lane moves left a
little,” Flynn explained. “We believe that will make for a smoother maneuver and
a better merge.”
Flynn added that ODOT is encouraging drivers to use both lanes up to the
merge point, especially during rush hours.
“We realize that traffic tends to be congested during rush hours,”
he said. “The new striping will help, and if drivers exercise patience and
cooperation, traffic will flow a lot more smoothly.”
ODOT has also added new signing and pavement markings to the merge area, so the
agency’s intent is well marked. Flynn said ODOT will continue to monitor the stretch
of 99W to see if the measures are working.
“We took some time-lapse video of the merge area before the change and
we’ll monitor the merge zone to make sure it’s working like it should be,”
he said. “We’re also working with police agencies to track traffic crash data.
We want to do everything we can to check the effectiveness of what we’ve done.”
Future traffic relief may come via reconfiguration of the intersection of Fox
Farm Road and 99W, as well as installation of a signaled intersection at 99W and First
Street. The state has received funds to study the two intersections, although it
hasn’t garnered any money to do the work. |
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From Oct. 29,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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