Text Size:   A+ A- A   •   Text Only
Find     
ODOT Region 4

Highway 372: Bend City Limits - Mt. Bachelor (Century Drive)

Current News

Paving operations underway
Paving on Century Drive began July 8.  The contractor, Knife River, will first grind out the old pavement and then repave.
 
No work is allowed on holidays or during special events scheduled on Century Drive.  
 
Paving operations will require single lane closures with delays up to 20 minutes.  Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and a pilot car.
 
The paving will begin at Bend City limits (Entrada Lodge) and progress towards Mt. Bachelor.  Generally, the paving will go two days in the westbound lane, then two days in the eastbound lanes and one day to pave road approaches and wide areas so that by the end of the week there is no abrupt edge in the middle of the highway.   A second layer of asphalt will be placed later on throughout the length of the project.
 
It will take until the middle or later part of September to complete the paving.
 
Contract awarded in April
A $7.8 million construction contract was awarded to Knife River in April 2012.  The current schedule is:
  • End of May into June 2012 – construct a multi-use trailDigging of multi-use path undercrossing on Century Drive. undercrossing near Forest Service Road 41 (Conklin Road).   Traffic will be shifted south of the construction area on an 800 foot graveled diversion road.
  • June 2012 – selected locations of the roadway will be dug out to improve the underlying sub-surface.
  • July through September 2012 – repave Century Drive.  Paving operations may occur seven days a week except on holidays and during special events (see below). Paving operations will require single lane closures with delays up to 20 minutes.  Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and a pilot car. 
  • June through October 2012 – replace signs and guardrail and install new striping and pavement edge delineators throughout the project.
Special accommodations will be made during lane closures for cyclists.  Flaggers will direct uphill cyclists to travel unimpeded in a designated bike lane.  Cyclists will be separated from traffic and construction by traffic cones.  Flaggers will stop downhill cyclists and have them follow the pilot car in the open travel lane.
Project Components
  • Repave 17.5 miles of Highway 372 (Century Drive) from the Bend City Limits (Entrada Lodge) to the Mt. Bachelor ski area.
  • Upgrade guardrails and signs, as needed.
  • Construct a trail undercrossing of Highway 372 just east of Forest Service Road 41.
  • Widen Highway 372 at Road 41for the future Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway Welcome Station.
      Vicinity Map                                                                           Project Information Paper 

Sign up for email alerts
Sign up for email alerts and be notified when this website is changed, or receive construction updates.  You will be asked to set up an account, which is free and simple.  The email address you provide will only be used for this project.  Simply click here to sign up.


Why the Project is Needed
Cracks in pavement on Hwy. 372 (Century Drive) west of Bend.
Pavement cracking and rutting on Century Drive west of Bend.

Why the project is needed
Highway 372, or Century Drive, is the gateway to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.  The Byway passes through the heart of Central Oregon with the towering Cascade Mountains providing a constant backdrop for a recreational paradise that offers first class bicycling, rafting, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and snowmobiling.
 
During the summer, Century Drive is used for major events such as Pole-Pedal-Paddle and the Cascade Cycling Classic, besides attracting large numbers of road bicyclists on a daily basis. In the winter, the highway provides access to Mount Bachelor, the 6th largest ski area in North America, along with five of the most heavily used snow park areas in the Pacific Northwest.
 
The project is needed because the highway pavement has extensive rutting, cracking and is coming apart.  It was last paved in 1991.  Existing guardrails and signs need to be replaced due to wear and updated highway safety standards.   

What is Being Planned

The entire 17.5 mile stretch of highway will be repaved.  Generally, one to four inches of the existing highway pavement will be ground and recycled into four inches of new pavement.  Guardrails and signs will be replaced.
 
The Forest Service is planning recreational improvements along Highway 372, including construction of a welcome station and a multi-use trail.  To minimize construction costs and impacts to motorists, the Forest Service has asked ODOT to construct a trail undercrossing and widen the highway at the future entrance to the welcome station as part of the paving project.  The undercrossing will allow trail users to safely cross the highway, and the widening will allow vehicles to safely turn into and out of the welcome station.  The station is scheduled to be built in 2013.  

Special Event Accommodations During Construction 
Construction operations will not be allowed to impact important events that use the highway.  The events include:
  • Pole, Peddle, Paddle - May 19, 2012
  • Central Oregon TT Series – June 20, 2012
  • Pacific Crest Triathlon - June 23, 2012
  • Deschutes Dash - July 14 & 15,2012
  • Central Oregon TT Series – July 18, 2012
  • Cascade Cycling Classic - July 20, 2012
  • High Cascades 100 – July 21, 2012
  • Cascade Lakes Relay - August 3 & 4, 2012
  • Bend to Bachelor - September 1, 2012
  • US Nationals Masters - September 7, 2012 
  • USAC Masters Marathon MB – September 15, 2012
  • Bigfoot Road Race - September 16, 2012
  • Leadman Epic 250 - September 22, 2012
Contacts
Name
Title Office Phone
Email Address
Jay Davenport 
Assistant Project Manager
(541) 388-6383 
Jay.Davenport@ODOT.state.or.us
Cari Charlton
Project Coordinator
(541) 388-6047
Cari.Charlton@ODOT.state.or.us
Bill Martin Project Coordinator
(541) 388-6183
William.F.Martin@ODOT.state.or.us 
Rex Holloway Community Liaison Rep. 
(541) 388-6178
Rex.A.Holloway@ODOT.state.or.us