BEND, OR -- City officials warned drivers about last week’s closure of a major northeast Bend intersection. But, according to police, some didn’t get the message. 

Road work at Neff and Purcell is rerouting traffic to allow for a major reconstruction project near the Bend hospital and Forum Shopping Center. It's scheduled to last through mid-summer. Sheila Miller, with Bend Police, tells KBND News, "Whenever a big intersection like that closes, it does put a kink in people’s plans." But, she says, that’s no excuse for what some have seen, "We’ve gotten calls from neighbors on residential streets who say people are going 50 mph down their residential road." She adds, "We’re also seeing people who are just driving right past the road closed sign, going up on sidewalks, just really exhibiting some problematic behavior."

Miller says that "problematic behavior" can be very expensive, "Driving past a road closed sign is illegal. We have been citing people in the last couple of days who are doing this, and the citation is for ‘failure to obey a traffic signal.’ And that is punishable by a citation of $265."

There is a signed detour, including NE 8th, Greenwood, Butler Market and 27th street. An interactive map is also available on the city’s website. "We’re just asking for people to plan ahead, have an idea of where you’re going and give yourself a little extra time. We know it’s frustrating. But, you’d hate to hurt somebody, and you’d hate to get a $265 fine, too," says Miller, and those extra patrols will continue, "If you’re going to drive on the sidewalk illegally through a closure, we’re going to be there to ticket you, for sure."