Local News

Deschutes County Plans to Fix the County's Most Dangerous Intersection in the Next Year

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS -- THERE HAVE BEEN TWENTY CRASHES AT THE INTERSECTION OF POWELL BUTTE HIGHWAY AND NEFF/ALFALFA MARKET ROAD.

 

THE COUNTY HAS TRIED SEVERAL LOW COST MEASURES TO IMPROVE SAFETY -- LIKE ADDING FLASHING LIGHTS AND SIGNS.

 

County Road Department Director Chris Doty tells KBND, it hasn't helped.

 

"Kelly Bleyer:  How long has that been in place?  Chris Doty:  Three to five years,  yet we've seen the crash rate increase.  It's clear more robust measures have to be done to address the safety issue."

 

Concerned residents are invited to come out for a public meeting on how to improve this dangerous intersection Monday.  It will be held at the Deschutes County Road Department on SE 27th Street and it starts at 6 P.M.

 

One of the possibilties the county is considering is putting in a roundabout there.

 

"The study comes out in favor of a roundabout because they slow traffic down.  Roundabouts have a fairly safe record because you take conflicting turns and turn them into right turns.  So that appears to be our best option at this point."

 

The county has already approved funding for this project and is expected to be done in 2015.

 

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