Overview
This project includes the pavement preservation and improvement of U.S. 20 from MP 14.31 to 17.39, bridge deck improvements on Deschutes River Bridge (#17251), roundabouts at the intersection of U.S.20/Old Bend Redmond and U.S.20/OB Riley Road, a bike/pedestrian under crossing at U.S. 20 and 4th Street in Tumalo and a multi-use path from Cooley Road to the intersection of Old Bend-Redmond Highway. The project will extend two eastbound lanes on U.S. 20 from the Old Bend-Redmond intersection east to milepost 17.23.
The roundabouts will be equipped with flashing beacons and ADA compliant crosswalks and ramps.
Planned improvements
- Roundabout at intersection of U.S. 20 and OB Riley Road.
- Roundabout at intersection of U.S.20 and Old Bend-Redmond Highway
- Multi-use path from Cooley Road (MP 17.39) to Old Bend-Redmond Highway (MP 16.7).
- Extending two lanes eastbound on U.S.20 from the Old Bend Redmond intersection east to MP 17.23.
Location(s)
Intersection of U.S. 20 and OB Riley Road (roundabout)
Intersection of U.S. 20 and Old Bend-Redmond Highway (roundabout)
Deschutes River Bridge
U.S. 20 from MP 14.31 to 17.39 (pavement preservation)
U.S. 20 from Cooley Road to Old Bend-Redmond Highway (multi-use path and lane extension)
Background
U.S. 20 is a major east-west corridor, connecting Tumalo and Sisters to the west with Bend to the east. It supports a significant number of regional trips between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon. This entire segment is classified as an urban principal arterial highway and expressway. It is a designated truck, freight, and high clearance route, as well as a leg of the National Highway System.
As Deschutes County population grows, two intersections along the U.S.20 Tumalo/Bend corridor have become points of elevated concern due to their history of congestion and crashes. ODOT data showed a total of 21 crashes on U.S. 20 between the intersections of 5th Street and Cook Avenue/OB Riley Road over a six-year period between 2009 and 2014. Of these crashes, 14 were intersection related. Nine resulted in injuries, including two that were severe. There were no fatalities during this period. Forty-three percent of the intersection crashes were left turning and 29 percent crossing maneuvers, with the majority caused being by failure to yield right-of-way.
ODOT and Deschutes County partnered to address these problems through a shared planning and public involvement process that identified traffic circles, or roundabouts, as the preferred method of reducing congestion and improving safety at these busy U.S. 20 highway intersections.
In addition to the roundabouts, Deschutes River Bridge, which crosses the U.S. 20 highway over the Deschutes River on the south end of Tumalo, will be resurfaced, and the roadway repaved between the bridge and Cooley Road. This section of highway has experienced severe rutting, fatigue, and cracking, and is in need of repair.
Milestones
2018 – Project initiated
- Phase 1: Performed traffic analysis to evaluate previously adopted concepts and new potential solutions. Completed Spring 2019
- Phase 2: Refined concept alternatives and conducted an extensive public outreach process to gain broad community and stakeholder input on potential solutions. Developed project to 30 percent design. Completed Summer/Fall 2019
- Phase 3: Right-of-way acquisition and develop the project to Final Design. Ongoing.
- Construction: Fall 2022-2023
Past safety improvements
Like most ODOT projects, improving safety is a primary goal of this project. To this end, ODOT and Deschutes County previously implemented short-term solutions to help improve safety in the U.S. 20 Tumalo/Bend corridor, including the following:
- Speed studies conducted in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In 2005, the speed through Tumalo was reduced to 50 m.p.h, and in 2007, the speed was reduced to 45 m.p.h.
- Advance speed zone signs installed east and west of Tumalo to alert drivers about the speed reduction ahead.
- Realignment of O.B. Riley Road and created a four-way intersection.
- Striping modifications to improve safety for northbound traffic on O.B. Riley Road turning right onto U.S. 20.
- Advance intersection signs with street names to improve awareness of upcoming intersections.