Bend City Council approves major intersection upgrades at Olney and Revere Avenues
Tracee Tuesday
BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] — The Bend City Council has given the green light to a significant intersection improvement project at Olney and Revere Avenues, designed to enhance safety and traffic flow at four key intersections in the city.
Funded by a voter-approved 2020 Transportation General Obligation Bond, the Olney and Revere Intersections project will improve the intersections at Olney/4th, Olney/8th, Revere/4th, and Revere/8th streets through the installation of two signalized intersections and two roundabouts. The project bundles these upgrades together to maximize efficiency and cost savings.
A progressive design-build contracting method was approved by the council, allowing for early collaboration between the city, engineers, and contractors. This alternative procurement approach is anticipated to reduce costs and streamline project delivery, compared to the traditional low-bid contracting process.
So, how will this Progressive Design-Build method be better than the usual contracting methods, where the job typically goes to the lowest bidder?
“I liken this to if you were going to remodel your kitchen, you wouldn’t just go with whoever happens to be the lowest bidder. You want somebody who understands what you’re trying to do, sees your vision and can really, you know, you can hire somebody who has experience doing that, that you can point to work they’ve done in the past that will provide you that good product at the end of the day,” said City Engineer, Ryan Oster. He continues, “It’s more than just about the absolute lowest bidder. We’re still going to look for a good price, no doubt, but we want to factor some experience into that as well,” said Oster.
The project, budgeted at $14 million and included in the city’s 2025-2027 budget and 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program, supports multiple city goals including transportation efficiency and public safety.
Construction is expected to begin soon, with the city continuing community outreach to keep residents informed about project progress and any potential impacts on traffic and local businesses.
Additional street and infrastructure work, including water and sewer line improvements, will be coordinated to minimize disruptions during construction.
Stay tuned for updates as Bend takes steps to modernize key intersections and improve transportation safety and connectivity throughout the city.