| ODOT News |
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| 10/15/2004 |
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U.S. 97 Reroute Groundbreaking Success
Thanks to local, state and federal partnerships
For more information: Julianne Repman @ 541.388.6224
Residents, local officials and dignitaries responded with applause and smiles today as the U.S. 97 Reroute Project kicked-off with a jovial groundbreaking ceremony in Redmond. “This project is underway thanks to local, state and federal partnerships,” said Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Bruce Warner. “We are fortunate to be working closely with the City of Redmond and a Congressional delegation that sets, and achieves, goals that bring important projects such as this to Central Oregon.”
Warner thanks the Congressional delegation for recognizing the local and statewide importance of the U.S. 97 Reroute Project. “This project wouldn’t be possible without their help. Senator Wyden and Senator Smith got the ball rolling by securing $4 million in the last federal highway bill for the project. Building on this bipartisan effort, Congressman Walden got $5 million earmarked in House legislation to update the highway bill,” Warner adds. “The City of Redmond further built on these efforts and committed nearly $12 million in city Urban Renewal Dollars.”
The remainder of this $72 million project will be funded with state funds provided by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act (OTIA) and federal funds ODOT and the Congressional delegation are working to secure through reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
Passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed by Gov. Kulongoski, OTIA provides $2.96 billion in bond proceeds for construction projects over the next 10 years. When added to the infrastructure improvements funded with other resources, ODOT’s construction volume will increase to $4.78 billion over the next decade.
The U.S. 97 Reroute Project will develop a new north/south route for a portion of U.S. 97 through Redmond. The project southern terminus is located near Veterans Avenue and the northern terminus will be at the City’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), currently located north of Spruce Avenue by Big Country RV.
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