BEND, OR -- More road work is in store for the north end of Third Street in Bend, this summer. The Oregon Department of Transportation continues a $17 million project that stretches from Empire to Greenwood. ODOT’s Kacey Davey says in the coming weeks, drivers will find new delays, "You’re going to see some single-lane closures from about Empire to Butler Market, Monday through Friday, as we’re putting in an intersection there and fixing a bunch of underground utilities." That includes a new signal at Mervin Samples, near the DMV, as part of the first phase of the 97 North Corridor Project. 

"Really, most of our construction projects are wrapping up, other than that one right in the middle of town," Davey tells KBND News. She's referring to work at Third and Greenwood where drivers are now encountering night work and single-lane closures. "That one will be going until fall of 2023." Crews are installing new signals, sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps. Night work is Sunday nights through Thursday nights, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

ODOT is also wrapping up work on a $5 million safety project between Bend and Redmond. Davey says the two-mile stretch of concrete median will prevent cross-over crashes. There’s also a new “southbound to northbound turnaround” in the northbound shoulder. "That one’s just about done, where we installed all that barrier in the middle of the highway. Just finishing up with some signage there. Same with the Ward/Hamby roundabout; that one is open and working. There’s just some signs left to go up on that one." That new roundabout at Ward and Hamby comes with a $6 million price-tag but ODOT says it should significantly reduce the risk of severe crashes.