The City of Bend is kicking off the second and final phase of construction on the Reed Market Road project with a groundbreaking at noon, Monday, July 7, at the Reed Market/15th Street intersection.
The Reed Market Road/15th Street intersection will remain open through the July 4 holiday weekend. It will close on Monday July 7. Please start planning for detour routes and watch for detour signs in the area. See attached map for detour plans.
The entire, two-mile Reed Market Road corridor from Third Street to 27th Street is being redesigned and rebuilt to include two travel lanes, a continuous center turn lane or median, bike lanes and sidewalks.
“This project will be a significant long-term improvement for multi-modal safety, mobility, access and transportation connectivity,” said project manager David Abbas.
The July 7 event marks the completion of the Newberry Drive (at the Senior Center) to 27th Street construction. This portion of road was completed on time and within budget.
The groundbreaking celebration also launches the second phase, between Third Street and Newberry Drive:
• The intersection of Reed Market and 15th will be closed through mid-November to remove the traffic signal, relocate the utilities and build a roundabout.
• Construction between Third Street and Ninth Street will also begin this summer and is expected to be complete in August of 2015. The westbound lane will eventually be closed with detours while the eastbound lane will be open throughout the project.
• Construction between Ninth Street and the roundabout at 15th Street will happen between August 2015 and November of 2015, and this portion of road will be open to traffic during construction. Total project completion is expected November 2015.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience during both phases of this important corridor improvement. This project was much needed,” Abbas said. “Historically, this was a farmer-to-market, rural county road that the City has absorbed as it’s grown. Now, the road is being upgraded into an exemplary model of our current, urban, arterial standards.”
The City understands that this project and its associated detours may be difficult for the businesses accessed off of this stretch of road.
“We understand the inconvenience that this road project will create for area businesses, most of which will remain open during construction. In the end, everyone in this area will be served by a better transportation system,” said City Manager Eric King. “We strongly encourage the community to continue to support this broad array of businesses during construction and detours.”
At an estimated $18.3 million, the entire Reed Market Road project is the largest and most complex part of the $30 million General Obligation Bond passed by voters in 2011.
Other bond-funded projects that are already complete include roundabouts at Simpson Avenue/Mt. Washington Drive, 18th Street/Empire Avenue and Brookswood Boulevard/Powers Road.
You can find more on this project at www.bendoregon.gov/gobond
