ODOT paving project will bring lane closures and detours on Bend Parkway

Update: Adding video, comments from ODOT, Bend resident

BEND, Ore. – A paving project along 6.2 miles of U.S. Highway 97 in Bend is scheduled to begin next Monday, with nighttime single-lane closures on the Bend Parkway shifting into full one-direction closures and signed detours, starting March 14.

The project is scheduled to continue through May 15, the Oregon Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

Peter Murphy with the ODOT said the parkway wasn't built for the amount of traffic it now sees.

"Back when people envisioned this highway it was more, I don't want to say cattle trail, but when it originated it was serving a whole different purpose than what it does today," Murphy said.

"It's worn out," Murphy said. "The parkway has taken a beating."

Murphy said the $7.5 million project is necessary right now.

"You really have to nip it in the bud and take care of it as soon as you can," Murphy said. "Because if you don't, and that damage gets further down into the sub-surface, then it's a lot more expensive to fix."

Signed detours will redirect traffic to Third Street, which doubles as the Highway 97 business route.

Rose Bowling, a cashier at Circle K, says she has noticed some cracks and potholes, but doesn't think its enough for a full project.

"I wouldn't say that it needs very much improvement," Bowling said. "It seems to work just fine, and I haven't had any issues with it."

The $7.5 million repaving project was awarded to Knife River and will include two inches of new pavement the length of the project corridor, to address deterioration and rutting.

Closures will take place nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday night to Friday morning.

"Overnight, people use that road a lot. And if they're five minutes late to work, or even five minutes to get to work, if it takes little longer, they tend to complain," Bowling said.

Additional improvements will include 64 new ADA curb ramps, push-button controllers and other upgrades at pedestrian signal crossings.

DETOUR ROUTES

Closures will be signed and organized in stages, with southbound closures taking place in Stage 1 as follows:

Southbound Closure #1 – U.S. 97 southbound will be closed from Exit 135A to Reed Market Exit 139. All southbound traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 97 Business Route (Third Street) and will be detoured south to Reed Market Road,where travelers will be able to regain access to U.S. 97 by way of the U.S. 97 southbound on-ramp at Reed Market.

Southbound Closure #2 – U.S. 97 southbound will be closed from Exit 139 (Reed Market Road) to Exit 141 (Murphy Road). All southbound traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 97 Business Route (Third Street) and will be detoured south to Murphy Road, where travelers will be able to regain access to U.S.97 by way of the southbound on-ramp at Murphy Road.

Northbound closures will take place in Stage 2, as follows:

Northbound Closure #1 – U.S.97 northbound will be closed from Exit 141 (Murphy Road) to Exit 139 (Reed Market Road.). All northbound traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 97 Business Route (Third Street) and will be detoured north to Reed Market Road, where travelers will be able to regain access to U.S. 97 by way of the northbound on-ramp at Reed Market Road.

Northbound Closure #2 – U.S.97 northbound will be closed from Exit 139 (Reed Market Road) to Exit 135B (Empire Avenue). All northbound traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 97 Business Route (3rd. St.) and will be detoured north to Empire Avenue, where travelers will be able to regain access to U.S. 97 by way of the northbound on-ramp at Empire Avenue.

SCHEDULE
March 7-12 – Single lane closures Sunday night into Friday morning each night, 8 p.m. – 6 a.m.
March 15-May 15 – Directional detour Sunday night into Friday morning each night, 8 p.m.-6 a.m.
March 19-22 – Weekend closure, with a single lane closed 24 hours a day northbound from Reed Market to Revere Avenue, Friday night, 8 p.m. until Monday morning, 6 a.m.
March 26-29 – Weekend closure with a single lane closed 24 hours a day northbound from Reed Market to Revere Avenue., Friday night, 8 p.m. until Monday morning, 6 a.m.

For more information and construction updates, visit the project website.