BEND, OR -- The intersection of Neff and Purcell closes Wednesday for a major improvement project that will last into summer.

This closure will detour drivers around Pilot Butte onto Greenwood Avenue and Butler Market Road, but the intersection will remain open to foot and bike travel.

The City’s Engineering and Infrastructure Planning Director, Ryan Oster says access to St. Charles will remain, “None of the entrances and exits to the hospital are impacted by this closure. Clearly the biggest impact is going to be people that are coming towards St Charles from the west, in coming down Neff there. And so, in that case, we’ve got a plan in place. If we have to react quickly, we can plate a trench or we can do something to allow that emergency to get through. To date, the fire, EMS, and St Charles are saying ‘we don’t think we’re going to need it but let’s see how this thing goes'.”

During the work, school bus routes have been modified, and parents were advised on drop-offs and pick-ups for schools in the area.

“We’re going to maintain pedestrian access through the intersection. So, peds, bikes, and others are still going to be able to get through. So, we have a plan in place for that with our contractor. We’ve been talking to the Bend-LaPine School district for a few months now just like we’ve been coordinating with St Charles,” Oster told KBND News.

This project is part of the Transportation GO Bond, bringing upgrades to the traffic light at Purcell and Neff, sidewalk improvements, bike lane striping, and the connection of Purcell Boulevard between Holliday Avenue and Courtney Drive.