‘A game-changer for Redmond’: City Council moves forward with Eastside Arterial Project

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Redmond City Council members say they are committed to keeping the place where they live, up to date, to match the growth and expansion of its community.

The City of Redmond held their city council workshop Monday evening, and on the agenda was an update on the Eastside Arterial Project.

"This project's going to be a game-changer for Redmond," Mayor Ed Fitch said. "It's going to provide access all the way down from 19th Street on the south end, with continuous no lights, just a couple of roundabouts. It's going to cut through the old Juniper Golf Course. It's going to improve Ninth Street, including Antler Avenue. There's going to be a tie-in with the airport, which is going to swing over towards First Street and Veterans Way."

The city says this Eastside Arterial Project comes at a perfect time, as the city continues to grow.

Director of Public Works and engineer Jessica McClanahan said, “One of the biggest reasons the project is prime today is because we have increased traffic along our South Highway 97 corridor. And so there really is a need to have an alternate route for folks to take to avoid that congestion."

"Additionally, there's a lot of economic development potential in our east side of town,” MacClanahan added, saying this project will be at no cost to the citizens:

“The project is estimated to be $33 million. It's funded predominantly through our transportation SDC, our car rental tax, which again, that is funding that's allocated towards transportation improvements, as well as one-time general fund expenditures. We also have smaller contributions from our water and our wastewater utilities for underground utilities that will be within the roadway as well.”

Construction is to begin in 2025 and run for three years.