Reed Market Rd. open for now; much more work to come

Bend’s rebuilt Reed Market Road from Newberry Drive to Orion Drive in southeast Bend reopened to traffic over the weekend, but the project is far from over.

“We’ve opened it up for turn lanes and three-lane sections, which will improve the safety of the traffic movement,” David Abbas, city project engineer, said Monday

One of the biggest complaints about Reed Market before was how narrow the roadway was. Now, there’s plenty of room for a bike lane, as well as sidewalks.

That’s the good news. The bad news, other sections are about to close.

The stretch from SE 27th Street to Orion Drive closes early next year to finish construction there. Then another, much bigger Reed Market project, between Newberry and Third Street.

Construction on bridges, a railroad crossing and a new roundabout at the intersection of 15th and Reed Market will begin in the summer of 2014.

“For the local area, it’s going to be a big problem for the high-traffic summer season, and obviously for the businesses around the area. it’s going to be devastating,” said Tom Healy who owns one of those businesses, the Expressway store, right at the 15th and Reed Market intersection.

“It’s going to be very difficult to survive that after all last summer being shut down,” Healy said.

If you live in the area, the project could prove frustrating, whatever the outcome.

“It’s inconvenient,” said Expressway gas attendant Jerry Rehner. “I mean, you have to work your way around all the other routes.”

While the roundabout is constructed, temporary detours and roads will be in place.

The new roundabout will be multi-lane. It also will have light up signs to warn drivers if a train is about to cross Reed Market.

Some worry that won’t be enough, and it could bring traffic more issues.

The city asks that residents be patient, and say it will be worth it in the end.