Busy Hwy. 20 Tumalo intersection could get roundabout

Improvements are once again being considered at a busy Tumalo intersection. Deschutes County commissioners discussed updating the intersection of Highway 20, O.B. Riley Road and Cook Avenue during their work session Monday.

The Oregon Department of Transportation began identifying long-term solutions for the area nearly a decade ago, but a lack of funding put the brakes on the project back in 2012.

“The latest six years of studies, there have been 21 crashes, 16 of which have been related to the intersection,” ODOT Region 4 spokesman Peter Murphy said. “So there are a number of crashes that do take place and, if we can avoid them with some sort of engineering solution, that’s what we want to do. That’s what the community wants to do.”

Before the project was halted, ODOT developed two concepts, including overpass and underpass designs. Now, a roundabout is also being considered.

“Right now, the county is potentially planning on funding a significant portion of it,” said Chris Doty, director of the Deschutes County Road Department. “At this point, it’s figuring out where can ODOT’s share of the project be funded from. So that’s the tricky part, as we see it right now.”

All three commissioners agreed the area is a problem and are supportive of moving forward, in a potential partnership with ODOT. The next step is selecting a final design configuration and preparing a design acceptance package. ODOT has prepared a cooperative improvement agreement to complete the package and take the next steps toward securing funding.