About
This project is Phase 2 of multiple phases in the U.S. 97 Redmond to Bend Safety project, Phase 1 was completed in 2022. Eventually, a center median barrier will be installed the entire stretch of U.S. 97 from Redmond to Bend.
Phase 2 will span approximately 2.1 miles along U.S. 97 from 61st Street (MP 128.00±) to tie into the existing center median barrier approximately 0.28 miles north of the Deschutes Market Overcrossing (MP 130.10), between Redmond and Bend.
A J‐turn will be constructed at Gift Road to accommodate turnarounds, and a raised median will be installed on 61st Street at the U.S. 97 connection to eliminate 61st Street eastbound left turns.
example of what J-Turnarounds could look like on U.S. 97
Location
U.S. 97
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U.S. 97 between Redmond and Bend.
Cost and Funding
$10 Million
What Problem Will This Improve?
Serious injury and fatal crashes occur with increasing frequency on U.S. 97 between Bend and Redmond, with many of the most serious being head on or cross over crashes. Installing a center median barrier is a long-term solution as outlined in the Bend to Redmond Safety Options Plan 2015.
Median barriers eliminate cross over and head on crashes by physically separating northbound and southbound travel lanes. Providing turn-around options will reduce the amount of distance that people must travel in unintended directions due to the median barrier.