Rhododendron Multi-Use Path Project Progressing

Almost two years after the Florence City Council approved a resolution (No. 25, Series 2012) accepting a Transportation Enhancement (TE) Grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for a multi-use path, the project is coming closer to reality. The multi-use path project, which will be located along the east side of Rhododendron Drive from 9th to Wildwinds, was one of 15 ODOT had approved for TE funds during fiscal years 2011-2014 and was added to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) with funds available upon completing the required project scoping and programming steps.

The TE program provides federal highway funds for projects that strengthen the cultural, aesthetic or environmental value of a transportation system, with ODOT administering the funding. ODOT will pay about 90 percent of the path’s total cost with the City’s share coming from our local street preservation funds.

A project kick-off meeting with representatives from ODOT, City of Florence, OBEC Consulting Engineers and Branch Engineering was held in September, 2013. Since this time, the engineering team has gathered survey data and developed drawings indicating where property lines, right-of-ways and utilities (underground and overhead) are located within the project limits.

In January, the City received the first preliminary layout drawings which shows the location of the multi-use path in relation to the existing street, stormwater treatment options and retaining wall locations. Preliminary construction cost estimates were also provided. City and ODOT staff met with the engineering team, and after thorough review of the retaining walls and their associated costs, recommended the elimination of the majority of the walls. In addition, City staff requested that the engineering team provide several different scenarios for the project including the use of alternate materials for the path itself. Cost estimates before the elimination of the retaining walls were more than $2 million. With the elimination of the majority of retaining walls and the use of hot mix asphalt concrete for the multi-use path, the estimated project costs were brought down to $927,700, allowing us to construct the project from 9th to Wildwinds along Rhododendron Drive.

The project will address stormwater quality and quantity through the use of a stormwater swale that will run parallel with Rhododendron Drive and will be situated between the road and the multi-use path, but will provide a buffer between the street and the multi-use path. For more information on the Rhododendron Drive Multi-Use Path Project, contact Public Works at 541-997-4106.