Crowd on hand for city of Bend open house on design for Wilson Avenue-15th Street roundabout

(Update: Introducing online video and opinions from the open home)

Protected bicycle lane, safer walking draw favor — but ‘a ton depends on the execution’

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The metropolis of Bend hosted a properly-attended open residence Wednesday night to present and reply concerns about types for the upcoming 15th Road and Wilson Avenue roundabout.

Also on exhibit had been preliminary design and style strategies for corridor advancements in between Ninth and 15th streets.

The Wilson Avenue Corridor Task is the initially to commence below the transportation common obligation bond permitted by voters in 2020.

The layout consultants, development workforce and town staff members had been on hand the to exhibit the plans and reply inquiries.

The venture is envisioned to get started early this summertime and to be concluded by the close of 2023.

Bend resident Ariel Mendez stated he feels the roundabout is a excellent strategy, but thinks it can be all in the execution.

“I think that this new roundabout has a good deal of possible,” he said. “I adore what the town is trying to do below — to present protection, especially for men and women going for walks and biking. It really is a new factor we have not viewed ahead of in Bend.

“But the devil’s in the information,” Mendez additional. ” I like what they’re seeking to do. But no matter whether if they’re going to actually be ready to supply and knowledge that is safeguarded, connected, feels safe. A great deal depends on the execution.”

Several people today who dwell around of push Wilson Avenue say it is been a extensive time coming, and metropolis leaders agreed.

“I’ve lived in Bend for extra than 30 yrs and on the east facet of Bend for pretty much 15,” City Councilor Barb Campbell said. “All of us that spend most of our time east of Highway 97 have identified about Wilson Boulevard and how congested it is really been for years.”

 The place has been unsafe for lots of decades, lots of on hand mentioned, and the choice for this roundabout all came down to protection.

Mayor Sally Russell mentioned, “That’s a difficult intersection for the persons on the east aspect of Bend to get via safely and securely at selected occasions of the working day.”

Bend is all about finding to check out the terrific outside, residents say, and with a secured bicycle lane, it could convey a lot more men and women outside.

Bend Bicycle board member Kaitlin Greene reported, “We observed a good deal of good matters, like the safeguarded bicycle lane. “Which is going to be Bend’s initial. We are tremendous-thrilled about (it). We definitely feel persons will bike a lot more when they’re emotion protected.”

Bend citizens are not unfamiliar with the ideas of roundabouts, and neither are inhabitants in Carmel, Indiana. As a reference, Carmel is not a great deal greater than Bend with a population of 106,843. But, Carmel has extra than 138 roundabouts, more than any metropolis in the U.S.