Some big changes are in store for drivers on the City of Bend’s west and northeast sides as everyone comes back from the summer break.
The 14th Street Reconstruction Project is being funded by a voter-approved transportation bond that was passed back in 2011, but it’s just now entering it’s final phase of construction.
Beginning on Tuesday, the stretch of 14th street between Galveston Avenue and Albany Avenue will be closed in both directions, so detours will be in place to wind around to the west to avoid the construction. However, that isn’t the only road closure planned for Bend residents.
Beginning September 10th, Empire Avenue will be closed between 18th Street and Purcell for stage one of the Empire Corridor improvements. Those improvements will include reconstructing the existing roadway, widening Empire to include medians and a turn lane at Desert Sage, adding sidewalks and curbs, widening bike lanes, and installing new landscaping in between the curb and sidewalks.
This stretch of Empire is expected to be closed to all traffic until at least early December, and future projects could include a new roundabout at Empire and Purcell, and the extension of Empire all the way through from Purcell to 27th.
