(1220 ODOT Bend North Corridor schedule | graphic Courtesy of Century West Engineering)
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been working with the City of Bend (City) for more than a decade to develop the US97 and US20 Bend North Corridor Project, which will break ground in early 2023. US97 and US20 are the primary north-south and east-west routes, respectively, through the booming Bend area and provide access to shopping, dining, businesses, school and recreation. The more than four miles of proposed improvements will result in:
- Improved pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity including multi-use paths, better crossings and accessible ramps
- New bus stops and improved connectivity for transit
- Improved and more consistent travel times
ODOT selected a design-build team led by Kiewit Corporation (Contractor) and Jacobs Engineering Group (Lead Designer) earlier this year and has been working diligently with the team to prepare shovel-ready plans within 2022. At an estimated $175 million, Bend North Corridor is the most expensive project ODOT Region 4 has ever built. “It’s also the first time ODOT has used the design-build method in ten years,” says Miranda Wells, ODOT’s project manager. “We’ve already seen more reliability and innovation resulting from this method, particularly as it relates to temporary traffic control.” Construction is expected to kick off in early 2023 with completion by the end of 2025, so managing traffic over a multi-year period will be critical to the project’s success. “The Kiewit/Jacobs team reduced the project footprint and increased construction efficiency to reduce project costs and impacts to the traveling public,” says Steve Litchfield, PE of Jacobs.
Another innovation that pre-dates the design-build team is the partnership between ODOT and the City to upgrade sewer and water infrastructure in the areas disturbed by project improvements. The City will fund these improvements, but they have been included in the design-build package so that they will be constructed seamlessly as a single project, reducing both cost and construction impacts. Other improvements include irrigation canal upgrades to Swalley infrastructure and a quiet crossing at the intersection of Cooley Road and the BNSF rail line.
The project was developed in alignment with ODOT’s commitment to building sustainable and equitable transportation systems for all users. “We focused on travel time reliability and safety for all modes,” Miranda says. The project will re-align US97 and reimagine the existing US97 roadway as a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly corridor focused on business and economic vitality. Improvements to US20 will include roundabouts that will encourage traffic to move slower but more smoothly without the stop-and-go pattern created by the existing traffic signals. This is consistent with ODOT’s Climate Action Plan, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among other initiatives.
Many local contractors and professional services firms are involved in the delivery of the project. While Kiewit is a large, international company, they place an emphasis on hiring local subconsultants and have worked with ODOT to establish aspirational targets for women and minorities who will be hired from within the local community for a variety of positions. The Jacobs design team includes in-house engineers living and working in Central Oregon and several subconsultants with local offices. ODOT also hired an outsource support team headed by STV, Inc. who will serve as an extension of ODOT staff for technical reviews and project administration. STV’s team includes three local businesses and over 30 percent engagement of disadvantaged and women-owned businesses.
When complete, the Bend North Corridor project will improve connectivity in the project area; increase safety for motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists; provide travel time reliability for transit, freight vehicles and commuters; and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of the local area. In the meantime, it will provide quality jobs to support many Central Oregon individuals and businesses.
Matthew Tipton is serving as the Design Compliance Lead providing support services to ODOT for the Bend North Corridor project. After moving to La Pine from the Portland metro area three years ago, Matthew has quickly established himself in the Central Oregon public works community. His other projects include a roundabout design with Deschutes County, working with the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council to site and design bus stops for a new transit line, and providing construction management services to the City of Bend.
