ODOT To Discuss Proposed Pleasant Ridge Closure

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BEND, OR -- The Oregon Department of Transportation will hold an open house Thursday to discuss the possible closure of Pleasant Ridge Rd. access from Highway 97. ODOT's Peter Murphy told KBNW News that the proposal was spurred by several accidents between Redmond and Bend.

"When you're trying to cross as much traffic as we now have on the northern part of Bend, it's a safety hazard. So, the immediate solution in that vicinity is to take a look at closure of Deschutes Pleasant Ridge Road."

In the long term, ODOT is planning for a future corridor, including a frontage road on the west side of Highway 97 between the Deschutes Market/Tumalo Rd. overpass and the Gift Rd. intersection. In February, ODOT closed the Wimp Way-Highway 97 intersection north of Terrebonne, citing similar safety concerns. Murphy said while there may be a few similarities, each case is looked at independently.

"We have a unique solution in Terrebonne, we'll have a unique solution north of Bend, we'll have a unique solution in La Pine. We have to take a look at these intersections and ask ourselves what the best solution we feel is, hear what people have to say, and then move along. And it's probably a scenario that will be repeated in various places along Highway 97 for some time to come."

Deschutes County Commissioners will have the final say on the Pleasant Ridge intersection closure, since it is a county road. Thursday's open house will run from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the ODOT Region 4 headquarters, at 63055 N. Highway 97 in Bend.

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