Bend to begin Olney Avenue pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; in-person, online open houses set

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Changes are coming to Olney Avenue in northeast Bend to make it a safer road to walk, bike, roll, drive and more, the city said Friday as it invited community members to an in-person and online open house about the project.

Community members can meet the project team and learn more at a pre-construction Open House from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Element Bend Hotel located at 1526 NW Wall St.

For those who can’t make the in-person open house, the city will provide an online version with the same information from Jan. 14-28 at bendoregon.gov/olneypedbike.

The project construction area includes Olney Avenue from the Portland Avenue Bridge to NE Second Street. Safety improvements also include two intersections: Wall Street and Olney Avenue, and NE Second Street and Olney Avenue. To increase efficiency, save money and reduce construction impacts, water, sewer and stormwater improvements will be completed during the Olney transportation construction.

Construction begins in February and will extend through the fall of 2025.

Visit the open house in person or online to learn about the project schedule and what to expect during construction, including business access, road closures and detour routes.