Old Bend-Redmond Hwy. set to get safety improvements

Rodney Ott lives on the corner of Tumalo Road and the Old Bend-Redmond Highway.

In his 45 years living there, he has seen many bad accidents and changes to the road, but one sticks with him more then the others.

“The worst one is when the county commissioner told me we have to kill seven people at that intersection before they could do anything,” Ott said Wednesday. “The seventh one was my neighbor that lived up here — that was the worst accident.”

With more people using the Old Bend-Redmond Highway, Deschutes County is looking to make sure that the most traveled intersections on the highway are easier to navigate.

Chris Doty, public works director, says that the highway is outdated and needs a major update.

“Some of the intersections that perhaps were built in a prior century or lifetime, not for today traffic certainly, are creating issues as far as safety and capacity,” Doty said.

Those living along the highway, including Marie Kitchen, would like to see safety as the main priority for Deschutes County.

“There isn’t much regard for thinking about a child running out into the street or animals,” Kitchen said. “My neighbors lost two dogs.”

The county has $7.6 million in place to give five different intersections a facelift. A consultant’s report on the proposed safety improvements was discussed by county commissioners at their work session Wednesday afternoon.

The Tumalo Road and Old Bend-Redmond Highway intersection is a candidate for a roundabout.

The “Six Corners” intersection could possibly see the addition of dedicated turn lanes to allow traffic to move smoothly.

Those that live on the highway said they believe the solution to fixing the Tumalo Road intersection could be very simple.

“But all they need to do for that intersection is take and and make everybody stop,” Ott said.

The next step for Deschutes County Public Works is to take the plan to the public for feedback.

Commissioners were generally supportive of the project presented to them Wednesday, and they hope to begin work on the improvements in 2019.

Our KTVZ.COM Poll asks if you believe the Old Bend-Redmond Highway safety improvements should be a top county priority. Find it halfway down the right side of our home page.

Click here for more information on the project.