Two new speed radar signs are headed for Philomath’s main traffic corridor with installation hopes pinned on the summer travel season — though final approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation remains the holdup.
Philomath Police Chief David Gurski updated the Philomath Police Committee on the project Tuesday afternoon at City Hall, telling members the city is in the “final stretch” of a drawn-out process as Public Works negotiates with ODOT over placement.
“They’re working on some IGAs and things like that as far as where they’re going to be placed in what part of the 25-mph zone,” Gurski said, referring to intergovernmental agreements. “ODOT has some restrictions there … so they’re working through that kind of final process.”
Philomath Public Works has taken the lead on the project. Gurski said the sign kits themselves — including the poles — have already arrived.
“It’s really been in ODOT’s court at this point — how fast can they get the approval and get all of those agreements with the city where we can get them up,” he said. “We’re in the final stretch, so that’s encouraging.”
Gurski also offered a rough price tag for the project, with installation likely to add to the total.
“I was told they were approximately $12,000 for the signs — for two of the complete kits and there’ll probably be some additional costs with however they mount them,” he said. “They come with their own mounting bases and poles but I believe they’ve got to pour concrete and do some other things.”
Exact placement remains under discussion. On the west end of town, the proposed location is around the 800 block, the police chief said. Public Works Director Kevin Fear has previously suggested the vicinity of Dollar General for that end. On the east end, Gurski said the city has looked at an area just east of Dairy Queen on Main Street. The “welcome log” where College Street meets Main Street, as well as the city-owned lot at 20th and Main, were previously mentioned by Fear.
Because Main Street is a state highway, ODOT’s rules will shape the appearance.
“They’re pretty strict on what they will allow,” Gurski said. “ODOT says no flashing lights on the state highway, so it’ll probably just be the speed readout.”
Placement within the speed zone is also constrained.
“This particular sign cannot be the first sign once you have a drop in speed,” Gurski said. “So you have to have a traditional speed sign that would announce the 25, and then it can be the secondary or third or fourth sign.”
City Councilor Rich Saalsaa noted that a Benton County temporary radar sign had been positioned on South 13th Street as of early Tuesday morning — a reminder of the kind of visible enforcement tool the new signs will provide on Main.
Gurski said he expects residents will welcome the additions, particularly with summer travel ramping up.
“I think a lot of the citizens will like that and not only that, but it’d be nice to have them up in the summertime,” he said. “We see a pretty big uptick in travel to the coast and just out-of-town travel in general. It would be great timing but it’s going to be up to when we can get the IGA in place with ODOT and get their approval.”
City Manager Chris Workman told the Philomath City Council in April that he anticipated the signs would be installed by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
