TERREBONNE, OR -- Deschutes County’s Road Department wants the public to weigh-in on the future of an intersection located between Terrebonne and Crooked River Ranch.

"The intersection of Lower Bridge Way and 43rd is a fairly busy intersection on the County Road network. There’s about 8,000 vehicles a day going through this intersection." But County Engineer Cody Smith says that doesn't include the cyclists on the Sisters to Smith Rock State Scenic Bikeway, "That goes from Smith Rock State Park all the way out to Sisters. So that recreation corridor exists out there."

There are three concepts under consideration. Smith tells KBND News, "We’ve developed a very low-scale right turn lane concept, that’s kind of a low order-type project. We’ve designed a concept for a realignment of Lower Bridge Way and 43rd, that would include a left turn lane. And then, we’ve also designed a roundabout concept." The cheapest option is the dedicated right turn lane. But Smith says, "Cost isn’t necessarily the only thing driving our decision. There’s a lot of other things we’re looking at, in terms of right-of-way constraints, in terms of safety and operations at that intersection."

A virtual open house is online through April 19, for those who use the intersection to provide feedback. Smith says they don’t just want to hear from drivers, "One thing we want to get input on too, in particular, is from the bicycle community and then bicyclists who frequent and use that Sisters-Smith Rock State Scenic Bikeway, and get their thoughts on what they want to see happen at that intersection." 

Work wouldn’t begin at 43rd and Lower Bridge until at least the latter part of 2025, because the county would need to acquire rights of way to increase the intersection footprint. The adjacent property is owned by the Bureau of Land Management.