The Oregon Department of Transportation and local leaders on Monday celebrated the completion of safety improvements on U.S. 97 through Terrebonne in central Oregon. The project's centerpiece is a new full-access interchange at Lower Bridge Way that allows drivers to enter and exit the highway without crossing oncoming traffic—eliminating a dangerous and increasingly difficult maneuver as traffic volumes have grown.
The $39 million project includes multiple safety features beyond the new interchange: a dog bone-style roundabout configuration beneath it to manage local traffic, gentle curves on the south end of Terrebonne designed to slow drivers entering town, and a new turnaround allowing southbound drivers to safely change direction to head north. The project also adds new and improved sidewalks, bicycle lanes, shoulders, and pedestrian crossings that connect Terrebonne Community School to surrounding neighborhoods and other community destinations.
"This project is about more than a new interchange. It's about helping people move safely through their community, whether they're driving to work, walking to school or traveling through Central Oregon," said ODOT construction and project manager Bill Martin. "It's also an example of what we can accomplish when state and local partners work together to address transportation needs."
Funding for the project included $20 million through Oregon's 2017 transportation package, House Bill 2017, and a $10 million contribution from Deschutes County. The project also included upgraded pavement, signs, striping, and lighting throughout the corridor. U.S. 97 serves as an important freight and travel corridor connecting communities throughout central Oregon.