Oregon Department of Transportation Overtime Grant Funds Means Extra Patrols on Highway 99E

There are currently 13 state highway safety corridors in Oregon.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The Oregon State Police have again been awarded grant funds to provide extra enforcement in the Highway 99E Safety Corridor between Salem and Woodburn.

It's one of six safety corridors around the state selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation for the grant money which helps law enforcement agencies pay overtime for dedicated traffic enforcement in these areas.

"Safety corridors are segments of state highways with a fatal and serious injury crash rate at or above 110 percent of the statewide average for the same roadway classification," said Anne Holder, ODOT Safety Division Statewide Roadway Safety Program Manager.

Oregon State Police received grant funding to work 299 overtime hours during 2007 in the Highway 99E Safety Corridor.

Last year, grant funds to work 273 enforcement overtime hours were provided to OSP.

In 2002, ODOT designated the approximately 11-mile stretch of highway as a safety corridor.

"Focused patrol efforts by troopers and recent improvements by ODOT to key intersections have led to a reduction in the number of serious crashes in this corridor. Although the number of serious crashes appear to be down, we still are arresting a significant number of DUII drivers in this area", said Sergeant Dale Young of the OSP Salem Area Command office.

Traffic Safety Corridors are designated through a cooperative effort of concerned local citizens, legislators, state and local police, local public works agencies, emergency medical service representatives, stakeholders and ODOT representatives.

Signs are placed on both ends of these safety corridors to inform travelers that they are entering these areas where traffic fines double where posted with double fine signs.

"Slow down, pay extra attention, and stay focused on the driving task at hand while driving on any highway," Holder said.