City of Bend pivots from summer street projects to preparing for winter conditions
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Fall is here and the weather is getting colder, so the City of Bend is gearing up for winter conditions. The city is prepared to handle Bend's average winter and has a variety of staff and tools to work with, including 18 snowplow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment.
Kelsey McGee is speaking Monday with the street division manager, as well as another staff member. She will also be reaching out to Les Schwab Tire Centers, asking when you should change your tires. Her report will be on NewsChannel 21 at Five.
Here's the city's recent news release on this year's summer street work and winter preparation:
BEND - The City of Bend’s 2024 Street Preservation Program has wrapped up after City street crews and contractors improved 59 lane miles (about 6%) of Bend’s approximately 936 lane miles of roads for about $4.7 million.
With the City’s ‘keep good roads good’ philosophy, work focused on using the right treatment at the right time to provide the most cost-effective way to maintain public Final striping and painting will be taking place over the next week.
In a Friday news release, the city said Bend's street preservation this season included:
- Paving contract with Knife River Corporation - Northwest (16 lane miles) – Old asphalt is ground out and replaced on the existing roadway. Paving occurred on some busy streets including Division Street, Butler Market Road, Reed Market Road, Bear Creek Road, NW 12th Street.
- Slurry seal contract with Doolittle Construction, LLC (22 lane miles) – A treatment for low-volume residential streets.
- Chip seal contract with One Way Trigger, LLC (21 lane miles) – An asphalt emulsion and rock are applied to streets.
“This work helps extend the life of our roads that are vital to our community. We thank everyone for their patience this construction season,” said Streets & Operations Project Manager Paul Neiswonger.
As seasons shift, the Transportation and Mobility Department is getting ready for winter operations and is asking everyone to do their part to prepare for winter. Learn what to expect during the winter in Bend at bendoregon.gov/winter.
The City’s resources are set for the average winter, but the occasional extreme storms can be challenging. The City has 18 snow plow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment. The equipment ranges from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks to heavy-duty (two motor graders) with snowplows.
The City prioritizes plowing and sanding on the highest-use streets that accommodate the most drivers, major employment areas, schools and transit routes. The City’s winter street priority map at bendoregon.gov/snow illustrates which routes get plowed first.
Crews prioritize plowing main arterials as “Priority One” for emergency vehicle access and the traveling public, also focusing on routes to the Hospital, transit routes, employment centers, government facilities, and schools (if class is in session).
“Priority Two” streets are typically main collector streets connecting to the arterials and include business centers, medical facilities, safe routes to school, transit routes, connecting neighborhoods, etc. Residential streets are typically done last and may be supported with contracted crews.
With 165 lane miles of main arterials, 80 lane miles of collectors and 691 lane miles of local residential streets, crews cannot plow and sand all roads at the same time and must follow this prioritized plan.
