About
As the city of Redmond continues to grow, Highway 97 south of downtown requires updates to improve safety and mobility, spur economic development and promote corridor vitality while maintaining the community's unique character. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the City of Redmond are continuing to collaborate with businesses to create solutions that will keep the corridor vibrant in the future while improving highway safety and operations.
Working with a Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the project team has developed a recommended design concept that is consistent with previous visions:
PROPOSED CONCEPT
After much collaboration with a Stakeholder Advisory Group and nearby businesses, property owners and residents, the project team has identified a recommended concept that increases safety and reduces travel times on this segment of US 97 with minimal impacts to businesses on the corridor.
The recommended concept introduces three new signals and U-turns that reduce conflict and movements at intersections. To make a left-turn, drivers must proceed to a designated U-turn area. In this concept, additional signals slow traffic and offer new, safer crossing areas that connect sidewalks and multiuse paths. Cost and impacts for this concept are estimated to be lower than other concepts considered. The map above shows the recommended improvements.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
- ROUNDABOUT – Roundabouts would complement new roadway connections, increasing access and traffic flow
- CANAL CROSSING – New crossings over the canal would provide additional connections between Canal Boulevard and USig97.
- ALLEY – Alleys would provide secondary access and connectivity to signalized cross streets.
- SIGNAL – New signals would provide safer turns and controlled crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
- U-TURN OPPORTUNITY – U-turns would improve circulation and local access along the Pedestrian Crossing – An additional pedestrian crossing provides another protected opportunity for pedestrians to cross US 97.
- MEDIAN – New medians would reduce conflicts along this stretch of US 97 where one-third of crashes occur
- WEAVING MANAGEMENT – Traffic entering from Airport Way would be prevented from making left turns at Wickiup to accommodate the proposed signal.
- PLANNED MULTI-USE PATH – A multi-use path would be added to complete the existing path along the canal, creating a safe space for recreation and travel for people who walk or bike near US 97.
- GATEWAY MARKER – Gateway markers would indicate to drivers a sense of arrival or departure and contribute to a unique sense of place.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Discussions about the US 97 South Redmond Corridor have been underway for several years as traffic on the highway and tourism in Redmond have been steadily increasing, posing the need for improvements. In 2010, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the City of Redmond, and local committees began to study the highway and make recommendations to accommodate its growing use in the Redmond South US 97 Corridor Plan. Design efforts included a two-day charrette in 2013 involving local engineers, planners and community members, followed by a partnership with the University of Oregon's College of Design in 2015. All of these efforts have resulted in the design concepts being considered today.
The consensus was a vision for the future of the US 97 South Redmond Corridor, which includes:
- A vibrant business district that is safe and accessible to shoppers traveling by car, bus, bike or on foot
- Traffic that moves efficiently and at a reasonable speed in both the north-south and east-west directions
- An aesthetically pleasing look
- Opportunities for business and community interaction
Since then, the community has been working toward this vision by looking at concepts to improve access to businesses, beautify the highway, enhance corridor safety, create biker- and pedestrian-friendly routes, and develop connectivity between the east and west sides of the corridor. Through collaboration, a preferred concept has now been selected for further refinement. At this point in time, the project is not funded; as concepts are selected, funding will need to be incorporated into future plans.
GET INVOLVED
We can't do this without help from the community and surrounding businesses. We want to hear from those who are impacted by the highway so that we can better improve it. On this site, you'll find numerous ways to
OFFER FEEDBACK.
Location
U.S. 97
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Cost and Funding
TBD