Bend’s Murphy Road extension set to begin this fall

If you live in southeast Bend, there’s some road construction coming your way. A $32 million improvement project on Murphy Road is planned to begin this fall.

The project extends from Parrell Road to 15th Street and will begin with a railroad overpass, followed by an extension of Murphy Road from Brosterhous Road to 15th Street. Then three new roundabouts will be installed at Brosterhous Road, Country Club Drive and 15th Street.

Other planned road improvements include bike lines and sidewalks.

Bend City Councilor Justin Livingston recently voted to prioritize the rest of the project. He said Wednesday it’s critical for the safety of the southeast part of town, as it will increase mobility, relieve congestion on Reed Market Road and reduce response times for fire and medical calls.

“With having a fire station there at Country Club Drive, they don’t even go down Reed Market because they cannot risk getting stopped by a train,” Livingston said. “So they have to go through Knott Road to get to the southeast part of town.”

Nick White has lived on Murphy Road for about a year and a half. He said he sits at the stop sign at Country Club Drive and Murphy Road a lot, especially when school is in session.

“I think initially it’s going to be kind of hectic, especially with the construction but I do think the end product will be beneficial for the area,” White said. “Especially with the firehouse being right there (on Country Club Road). I think having that (a roundabout) here will allow traffic to flow more smoothly and a little bit more safely.”

Details on the Murphy Road Corridor Improvement Project can be found here on the city of Bend’s website.