Traffic in Terrebonne used to be a lot quieter than it is today.

But now, with heavy, fast-moving and long lines flowing through town, residents are eager for a new ODOT road project set to start next spring that will transform the town’s U.S. Highway 97 corridor.

The main part of the project, the total cost of which could grow to $30 million, will add an interchange at the intersection of Highway 97 and Lower Bridge Way, just north of downtown Terrebonne. That work will allow drivers heading to or from Crooked River Ranch to access the highway without having to cross two lanes of traffic.

ODOT officials said Dec. 4 at an information session at the Terrebonne Community School that the project will also include a number of upgrades to Terrebonne’s local roads and new features called “chicanes,” which are designed to slow traffic, will be installed on both the north and south ends of town.

The chicane will include islands that narrow the roadway and require vehicles to follow a curving path in order to discourage speeding. They will also help separate vehicles that are stopping in Terrebonne or turning off toward Smith Rock State Park from those wishing to say on Highway 97.

Residents say project is needed

For many residents in Terrebonne and Crooked River Ranch, the news that ODOT crews will likely begin construction on the project in March, with a completion date expected for fall 2025, was a sigh of relief. Residents said they are willing to put up with a year and a half of construction inconveniences for safer driving conditions when the work is finished.

Since 2020, there have been 17 serious accidents at the intersection of Lower Bridge Way and Highway 97, according to data provided by Redmond Fire & Rescue.

“When we first moved over here, I would let a baby crawl through the highway,” said Bill Doty, who has lived on a Terrebonne property right along Highway 97 since 1989. “But I’d say in the past 10 years, the traffic has gotten so bad. You see 15 semis just trucking right along and nobody does the speed limit, even through Terrebonne.”

Doty said he routinely hears vehicles crash at the problematic intersection near his home. He does his best to offer assistance.

“At 2 o’clock in the morning, I throw on my clothes and run out to the road and see if I can help anybody,” Doty said. “I’ve done that three or four times.”

Bill Doty’s wife Michelle Doty was born and raised in Bend. She said she moved to Terrebonne to escape Bend’s increasing traffic. And while she said Terrebonne still has a small town feel, it is catching up with Bend as far as traffic is concerned. And that had made drivers unsafe.

“Because of where we live, we’ve seen a number of times when they’ve had to bring the helicopter in to pick people up and take them off to the hospital,” said Michelle. “(The highway redesign) is needed. We’ve got to do something.”

Michelle Doty said she was a little concerned about how the construction phase will affect her ability to get around town while the dust flies. And residents and local businesses are hoping the inconvenience is minimal during the 18-month construction phase.

Cari Charlton, consultant project manager with ODOT, said the project should begin by March. She said the busy intersection with Lower Bridge Way, which serves as a major artery for the roughly 5,000 residents living out at Crooked River Ranch, was a major safety concern that needed addressing.

Charlton said speeding is also a concern, and the project will install chicanes at both ends of Terrebonne to help reduce speed. That will make travel easier for local traffic, both those in vehicles and on foot.

“It is a shifting of the highway alignment,” said Charlton. “That helps physically slow cars down, because just because we put a sign up doesn’t mean traffic is going to abide by that posted speed limit. So the shifted roadway, or the chicane, is a physical reason to slow people down coming into the community.”

Charlton said the project will also provide much needed upgrades to Terrebonne’s local roads, with parking, new lighting, signs, turn lanes and pedestrian crossings all planned.

For Debbie Hershey, who lives in Crooked River Ranch, the highway project is exactly what the community needs.

“I am very excited about it. It’s a mess (currently). When people leave my house and head towards Madras, I tell them, ‘Do not try to turn left on 97 but instead turn right, go in and make a circle around the grocery store (Oliver Lemon’s),’ because you just cannot turn left,” Hershey said. “And when I see a line of cars ready to turn left I just want to get out and tell people you just can’t do it. It is very dangerous. So, this will be wonderful.”

Other guests at the informational session agreed.

Bobbie and Bob Miller, who also live in Crooked River Ranch, said they understand it will be inconvenient to get to town during construction, but they are ok with that.

“I think it will solve our greatest concern, which is safety being able to get on 97 northbound. Because it is dangerous the way it is now,” said Bob Miller. “I imagine it will be a mess for traffic trying to go from Madras to Bend, but when you have progress you have problems getting there. I think it will be worth it.”

Construction may impact local businesses

Lauren G. D. Redman, CEO of Rudy’s Markets Inc., the company that owns the Oliver Lemon’s, said she expects the construction to affect sales at the market, but said the store will continue to serve the community as it always has.

“Long term this is the way the county wanted to go and the community had their input and we just hope people will be patient and make that extra effort to shop with us especially because we are locally founded and employee owned,” Redman said. “So we need that support through construction.”

Jesse Day of Crooked River Ranch was busy doing his weekly shopping at the Oliver Lemon’s on Dec. 4. Clutching his shopping basket, he said he is worried about how the construction will affect his ability to access the store. But he said he plans to make an effort to get there regardless.

“I hope that the businesses can remain where they are. And maybe we will give them more business,” Day said. “I’ve got my fingers crossed that it won’t be bad.”

Craig Houghton, who turned 71 on Dec. 5, is another Crooked River Ranch resident who treks to Terrebonne to get groceries. He said the project is necessary because of all the deaths along the road, but hopes the inconvenience won’t force him to have to bypass town to get supplies. He marveled at the size of the project for such a small town.

“Several people have been killed here, nearby, because of the two-lane traffic coming through town. Of course, you know you should reduce your speed. But even then … you can still be killed. It’s a small town. We don’t have a stop light,” Houghton said.