Rhododendron Drive Realignment & Improvement Project FAQ

• Phase 1: North of 35th to the north side of New Hope Lane
• Phase 2: New Hope
• Phase 3: New Hope Lane to Wildwinds

Yes, the contractor has coordinated with the Siuslaw School District to ensure that school bus access remains available. They will work to ensure the busses can make it through the project area in an efficient and timely manner. 

Before the water shut off, we will have door hangers for impacted residents and businesses. You can also find project updates on the City's Rhododendron Drive Realignment & Improvement Project webpage, as well as the City’s social media pages linked at the bottom of the website. 

​​​​​​The transfer station will be operational during regular hours. We do not anticipate limited hours, but any interruption will be communicated. K&E Excavating will be working with the transfer station to ensure that there is always a way to get in.

The whole history of speed and who controls it is that the State of Oregon regulates the speed. However, last couple years, the state has relaxed that a little bit. We will be evaluating the speed limit when this project is completed. We are looking to lower the speed limit to 35 mph. That's the lowest we can go without completing another speed study. Currently the speed is set at 40 miles an hour for the whole length of Rhododendron Drive from Heceta Beach Road south to the bottom of the hill before Wildwinds Street.

In the river pullout area, there will be a curb, a planter area, and then a five-foot walking path along the river's edge. We do have plans to take the stockpile of bridge rail that we received from ODOT after the refresh of the Siuslaw River Bridge and strategically place them between the river and the walking path.

​​​​​​We have not actually calculated how many, but it should be pretty close to the same. The parking area is starting about where New Hope Lane is and will continue from there to the same termination point at the south end. There may be a couple spots to the north of New Hope Lane that may be eliminated, due to adding the pedestrian crossing, but the rest of it should remain the same.

Yes, you still have access to the river and you can still fish. It will actually be improved. There will be separation between you and the traffic/parked cars. There will be a walking path, a landscape buffer, and then parking.

This project will re-purpose old sections of bridge railing that was removed from the Siuslaw River Bridge several years ago when ODOT replaced the railings. The railing will be placed along the edge of the pullout area along the river. We plan to have gaps in the railing for people to access the river bank for fishing. 

​​​​​​That is the beauty of a multi-use path. It is ADA accessible. It will have the correct slopes and it will be paved. This way anyone using an assistive device, whether it is a wheelchair or a walker, can utilize the multi-use path and have that elevated view and look out over the traffic to see the river.

Depending on how much more we achieve through savings and value engineering on this project, there may be an opportunity to extend the multi-use path to the north within the scope of the project with K&E. We make no promises. However, if it does not happen with the current project, we do have plans to extend it in the future. It comes down to funding. We do have plans to extend the multi-use path all the way from 35th out to Heceta Beach Road and from a Heceta Beach Road out to Highway 101. It is not only in the City's transportation system plan; it is also in Lane County’s transportation plan. The county and the city have been actively looking for funding for that project (to extend the multi-use path along Rhododendron Drive and Heceta Beach Road). Last year the City and Lane County teamed up and we put in grant request for that project. Sadly, it was not selected, but that does not mean it is the only time that we will be seeking/requesting grant funds.

At the ends of the multi-use path, it will transition back into the shoulder. At Wildwinds separated muti-use path will transition to the 6-foot wide extended shoulder. At the north end (north side of 35^th) it will transition to the 2-foot wide shoulder.

Soil Nail Wall, also known as soil nailing, uses grouted, tension-resisting steel elements (nails) to reinforce in situ soils and create a gravity retaining wall for permanent support. Process: Soil nail walls are generally constructed from the top down. Typically, the soil is excavated in three to six foot deep stages. After each excavation stage, near-horizontal holes are drilled into the exposed face at typically three to six-foot centers. Tension-resisting steel bars are inserted into the holes and grouted in place. A drainage system is installed on the exposed face, followed by the application of reinforced shotcrete wall facing. The finished soil nails produce a zone of reinforced ground.

There is no plan for benches or garbage cans in the current project. However, we are open to donations from the public to sponsor benches and trash receptacles. There is also an opportunity for individuals or organizations to adopt this section of roadway under our adopt-a-street program.

We will gladly take donations for amenities along the river. Amenities are not currently in the plan for this $7 million project. Any amenities would be purchased and placed after the project is completed and depending on funding available. 

We will put in a root barrier to prevent root heave of the newly install surfaces. The root barrier will help to confine the roots and force them to grow in a downward direction. This will prevent them from spreading out and lifting the concrete and pavement.