ODOT changing out curbs at Prineville roundabout

(Update: Adding $185,000 cost of project)

“With the benefit of a year of experience with traffic” at the state Highway 126/Tom McCall Road roundabout, the Oregon Department of Transportation said Wednesday its engineers are making an overall safety and operational improvement by replacing the curbs with angled ones that large trucks can roll over more easily..

When the roundabout opened in June 2018, the design included “vertical” curbs.

“Since that time, ODOT has determined that ‘mountable’ curbing (angled) is a superior design, intended to better address the needs of the freight industry and better accommodate statewide driver expectations for safety,” the announcement said.

With new information at hand, ODOT said it “is responding to the needs of all motorists, and most notably freight truck drivers, at the intersection of OR126 and Tom McCall road near Prineville, by installing the new, mountable curb.”

Construction on the $185,000 project will take place beginning Wednesday, August 14 and will continue every Wednesday and Thursday night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for about 4-5 weeks.

ODOT encouraged drivers to take note of the new construction and drive accordingly while it is underway.

“Motorists can look forward to a smoother, safer, drive when it is completed,” the agency said.

ODOT Region 4 spokesman Peter Murphy said the angled curbs will result in “less bumping on the curb, for trucks and cars — more stable, especially in icy conditions.”

He noted it was the first roundabout on a state highway in Central Oregon — “a learning experience,” moving to a similar design as the one on U.S. Highway 20 in Sisters, with angled curbs.