BEND, OR -- Road construction season is ramping up. Deschutes County Road Department Director Chris Doty says some work happens over winter, but crews are limited until asphalt plants fire up, "We’re right at that point. I think a few contractors are making mix and so, it’s about to get real."

Prep work is already underway for a major project near the Bend Airport: construction of a new roundabout at Powell Butte Highway and Butler Market Road. "That’ll start in earnest on April first, and it’ll run through the summer mostly, to the end of September," says Doty. 

He tells KBND News, "Powell Butte Highway is a highly used commuter route, anymore. A lot of folks coming in from Prineville. Butler Market Road is kind of that first major intersection that you see as a driver, and that’s always going to be a safety concern: if you’ve been driving on a rural segment for a long time, all of a sudden you have traffic at an intersection." He adds, "A roundabout’s going to slow people down, allow people to access Powell Butte Highway from Butler Market safely, and solve some of the problems that have occurred there over time." Doty says a traffic signal was ruled out as an option, "Signals can sometimes add to safety issues, especially in that rural network, because you’re not anticipating a signal to be there."

The $2.9 million project also includes other work, "In addition, there will be a left turn lane that will be constructed to provide left turn access into the Bend Airport, as well. Another improvement to deal with traffic flow in the area."