Fixing a ‘mess’: City of Bend receives $32 million in federal funds for Reed Market Railroad Crossing Project
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The City of Bend has received $32.3 million in federal funding to fix traffic backups for the Reed Market Railroad Crossing Project.
One Bend resident, Nik Eriksson, describes the current area as a "mess."
"It's kind of madness and a little bit chaos right now. And yeah, just hectic as a whole," he said.
The City of Bend has decided to eliminate the railroad crossing and replace it with a bridge that places Reed Market Road over the railroad.
The changes are meant to help travel flow and travel time, and create a safer route for those in cars and on foot.
The City of Bend says every day, there are six to eight trains that cross the road and can stop traffic in excess of 20 minutes. That's something city Engineering Director Ryan Oster says the changes will help with.
"For anybody who travels - I live on the southeast end of town myself. I experience this firsthand, but it'll reduce the travel time to get over the Reed Market area there. It'll also really help get our response times down from our emergency response folks."
But a nearby business owner has concerns about a possible street closure.
"I think it could have a considerable negative impact," said Craig Simpson, the owner of Specialty Automotive Service and Repair. "Because there's a good chance they're going to close off Ninth Street, which is a major artery for connecting to our business."
The city says it believes the positives far outweigh the impacts, adding that the bridge will create a safer east-west connection for those walking and biking in the city, something Bend resident Nik Eriksson welcomes.
"At this point in time, I avoid that area at all costs," he said. "I take, like, back roads, different streets to - I don't know, to get where I'm going."
This project received initial funding from the General Obligation Bond that Bend voters passed in 2020. Construction is set to begin in 2027 and continue through 2028.
