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How state intends to fix Hwy. 20 junctions

Written November 18th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 16 responses.

ODOT is inching ahead with plans for safety upgrades on the Albany-Corvallis Highway, and here is the agency’s concept for improving the junctions at Granger Road and Independence Highway.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany-Corvallis Highway, Granger and Independence junctions, Highway 20, Midway Farms, ODOT

On the blink: Ellsworth bike-on-bridge lights

Written March 19th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

[youtube video=”GcV6ib2c9m8″] Crossing the Ellsworth Street Bridge in Albany on a bicycle can be a bit of a thrill. To make it less risky, ODOT installed a system of flashing lights when the bridge was rehabilitated in 2002. (To make a long story short, the lights are out but were supposed to be fixed shortly, […]

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary, News
Tags: bike on bridge warnings, Ellsworth Street bridge, ODOT, Oregon bicycling

A traffic change: Dotted line turns solid

Written December 13th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 19 responses.

ODOT has followed through on changing an important lane marking on Ellsworth Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues. Now let’s see if Albany drivers get the hint.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany downtown, Albany traffic, Ellsworth Street, Highway 20, highway lane markings, ODOT, Oregon highways, solid white line, traffic control change

Cyclists at the ‘gore:’ What to do now?

Written December 3rd, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

That’s an awkward place for a bike lane to end, and apparently I’m not alone in thinking so. Someone made the same point to the Albany Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission.

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary
Tags: Albany bicycling, Albany cycling routes, Albany traffic, Interstate 5, Knox Butte Road, ODOT

Those bumps on Lyon: the fix is coming

Written November 21st, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

The new pavement on the Highway 20 couplet in downtown Albany has but one little flaw: Some of the manhole covers ended up way below the surface, making for a slightly bumpy ride. But they’re working on a fix.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Hghway 20 couplet, Lyon Street, maintenance holes, manhole covers, ODOT

Will this tricky corner ever be fixed?

Written October 23rd, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 22 responses.

Once again, on Tuesday morning, a log truck spilled its load while turning from Spring Hill Drive on Highway 20 toward the Ellsworth Street bridge. When will ODOT do something about this corner, tricky because of its steep downhill turn.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: ODOT, Spring Hill and Highway 20

Take the lane, those symbols say

Written September 24th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

“They must be kidding” was my thought when I first laid eyes on this new symbol in the middle of the right-hand travel lane of Albany’s Ellsworth Street downtown. But they’re not. Kidding, that is.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: bike sharrows, Ellsworth and Lyon, Highway 20, ODOT

More lanes? Don’t hold your breath

Written August 19th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 10 responses.

[youtube video=”aUvX-yk8IiY”] Watching northbound traffic creeping along on I-5 made me wonder what’s happening with the long-standing plans for third lanes. The answer is not much, other than continued planning, which moves much slower than even the traffic on a summer Sunday afternoon.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: I-5 freeway, I-5 widening projects, ODOT

Fresh crosswalk lines, but why now?

Written August 8th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 9 responses.

A reader, Larry Falk, was wondering last week why ODOT was painting crosswalks on Lyon and Ellsworth even though both legs of the downtown Albany couplet of Highway 20 will be repaved next month. Evidently it was a mistake.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: downtown couplet, downtown crosswalks, Highway 20, ODOT

Are we there yet? Not quite, but close

Written July 18th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

Wondering when — or indeed if — street work in downtown Albany will ever be finished? The answer is Friday, sort of.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany downtown, Emery, First and Broadalbin, ODOT, streetscape