Bend’s Franklin Avenue roundabout to get concrete redo

The city of Bend is rebuilding the roundabout at Northeast Franklin Avenue and 8 th /9 th Street, prompting about two weeks of detours, starting next Monday.

City officials said Tuesday the project will be completed by Sept. 2, before school starts. During construction, the roundabout will be closed and detours marked (see the map for the route).

In 2001, the roundabout was built according to the standards of that time, city officials said.

But use of this intersection has increased and conditions have deteriorated, making the roundabout appropriate for a full reconstruction.

The city is rebuilding the roundabout with a new concrete surface, which is a more durable material than asphalt.

“Concrete gives the roadway more longevity and a longer life cycle,” said Streets Supervisor Paul Neiswonger. “We won’t have to rebuild that for at least 30 more years.”

The city said its Streets and Operations Department uses a “keep good roads good” philosophy, which means the city maintains and preserves streets with the most cost-effective treatment – the right treatment at the right time.