REDMOND, OR -- Oregon’s Department of Transportation is wrapping up work at a critical intersection between Bend and Redmond. The project is aimed at improving safety on Highway 97. 

According to an ODOT study, the stretch of 97 between Bend and Redmond saw 130 crashes, between 2011 and 2015. Ten of those resulted in serious injuries or death, and many were at or near the intersection with 61st Street. 

ODOT's Kasey Davey says driving the corridor should get a little easier next week, "By the commute on Tuesday morning, folks should see all of the construction, all of the temporary barrier at that intersection picked up and you’ll have new improvements there." Those improvements include new flashing lights alerting people of the intersection, and acceleration and deceleration lanes, "So, when you want to slow down to make a right on to 61st, like you’re coming from Redmond, you can pull over into your own lane  and slow down without affecting traffic behind you. The same thing on the other side. So, if you’re trying to make a right and go towards Bend from 61st, you’ll have 2,000 feet of your own lane to get up to speed before you have to merge into traffic."

The project aimed at improving safety comes with a $6 million price tag. "But that’s not just for 61st Street," Davey tells KBND News, "That’ll include improvements at Quarry, some median barrier, some visibility improvements and a turnaround at the end of that median barrier." That next phase is expected to start as soon as crews can shift equipment north from 61st to Quarry Avenue.