(Graphic courtesy of City of Bend)
This fall marks the kickoff of the Reed Market Bridge Project design phase.
Project Overview
A new bridge at Reed Market Road will improve travel time reliability, safety and east-west connectivity for all travelers. This project involves the design and construction of a new bridge over the railroad tracks on southeast Reed Market Road, roughly between American Lane and Ninth Street/Quill Place. Every day, six to eight trains cross Reed Market Road, causing traffic delays. Separating this busy crossing with a bridge will end these delays and the associated frustration, while also reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
The Reed Market Bridge project is now fully funded and moving into the design phase. This project is funded through grant money from the Federal Railroad Administration (70%) and the City of Bend General Obligation (GO) Bond (30%). The total project budget from engineering through construction is $47.6 million.
Project Goals
The project team created the following goals to ensure this project aligns with community priorities and supports safe and reliable travel for years to come:
- Improve traffic flow and predictability
- Create a safer connection for all users
- Increase emergency response time reliability
- Increase east-west connectivity
- Meet community priorities established in the Transportation System Plan and the voter-approved 2020 Transportation GO Bond
- Minimize impacts on neighbors and businesses
These goals align with City goals of improving the transportation system by focusing on safety, traffic flow, east-west connections and neighborhood safety improvement projects.
Estimated Timeline
The team will be completing designs for the bridge over the next year and looking at ways to include connections for people walking, biking and rolling. We will also be identifying ways to construct the bridge while limiting impacts to the surrounding neighbors to the extent possible.
As soon as November, some initial work will begin in preparation for later construction, such as pre-design exploratory excavation work, and eventually moving franchise utilities and other connections. Reed Market Road will remain open during this time. However, some temporary lane shifts may be required.
Construction on the bridge itself could begin as early as spring 2028 and is expected to take about two years to complete.
Upcoming Events
When the project design phase is around 60 percent complete, the City will host an informational open house to share the latest design and anticipated construction plan for the Reed Market Bridge. This event is expected to be held in Fall 2027.
More information about this project will be available at the 15th Street & Reed Market Roundabout Improvements Pre-construction Open House, which is expected to take place in January 2027.
