Prineville roundabout opening delayed to Friday

(Update: Roundabout opening delayed a day)

C rews working for the Oregon Department of Transportation have been working on the Oregon Highway 126 – Tom McCall Road roundabout since January, and it’s now set to open Friday morning.

ODOT on Thursday cited “unforeseen difficulties” in delaying the scheduled Thursday opening by 24 hours.

Planning for a traffic solution at the intersection has been ongoing by ODOT and city of Prineville traffic managers and engineers since about 2013 and included a test “roundabout rodeo” at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in August of 2016.

The $4 million roundabout concept was selected after a series of public meetings and comment period.

Workers from Alex Hodge Construction have completed the basic travel patterns for the roundabout and while finishing work will continue, it will open to traffic on Friday around 9 a.m., following the early morning commute.

Motorists are advised to slow down and pay close attention as their travel pattern in this vicinity will change. Additional signage will indicate the proper travel path, ODOT said.