ODOT’s Bend Highways 97/20 North Corridor Project nearly done, a bit early and on its $195 million budget

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – After many years of planning and nearly two years of construction, the U.S. Highway 97/20 Bend North Corridor Project is “substantially complete,” two months ahead of schedule and within its $195 million budget, an ODOT official said Thursday.

Project participants and officials will hold a ribbon-cutting event soon to mark completion of a major project that’s shifted Highway 97’s through traffic to the east while creating a northern extension of Third Street by the Cascade Village Shopping Center and other busy retail spots on the north end of town – now called Business 97.

While December was the target completion goal, “we are just in the final stages of paving, striping and getting signs up,” which should be done soon, ODOT Region 4 Public Information Officer Kacey Davey said.

The goal of the various project elements, including four new dual-lane roundabouts along Highway 20 between Bend and Tumalo, was “to relieve congestion and improve travel times, safety and mobility for all modes of transportation,” the agency said.

Getting there was literally a challenge for drivers and area businesses during the project amid all the traffic impacts and shifting routes, from rock blasting to just getting used to the changes and new configurations.

More details on the project are available at this web page.