Murphy Road project rounding final corner

It’s the second year of construction on the Murphy Road project in southwest Bend. Phase 1 is complete and construction has begun on the second, final stage.

Phase 2 creates a road where there isn’t one currently, between the new Murphy Road bridge and Brookswood Boulevard. The Oregon Department of Transportation also will create a roundabout at that intersection.

“It could be frustrating, especially when you don’t know what’s coming and you have to go another way or something,” Bend resident Tim Hokland said Thursday.

It’s easy for drivers to get confused in the grand scheme of construction.

“Even just looking at it, you can’t quite tell what it’s going to be,” ODOT Region 4 spokesman Peter Murphy said.

Muphy said Brookswood and Larkwood is “ground zero” of where all the changes will be during Phase 2.

“It’s where people will see most of the changes.” Murphy said.

Construction workers are currently leveling ground between Murphy Road and Brookswood Boulevard to provide a new east-west connection in southern Bend.

“This area is going to through some real changes.” Murphy said.

Brookswood Boulevard will be closed near the Pinebrook intersection starting May 15. The construction is scheduled to continue until September 15.

It might be a headache for the time being for some Bend drivers, but ODOT’s hope is that at the end of the project, Bend will be better connected — and safer.