The new southbound lanes of U.S. 97 on Bend’s north end opened Friday night, meaning drivers headed into the city from the Redmond side will need to navigate some changes.
The new Highway 97 bypasses shopping centers that include Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Trader Joe’s, the new Costco that’s being built, Chick-Fil-A and others. The bypass also takes drivers past the connections to U.S. 20 toward Sisters.
Instead, drivers who want to get to those shopping centers, Cooley Road and U.S. 20 must take the new Exit 134. That will put them on the new Business 97.
Drivers who get on the bypass will not be able to exit until Butler Market Road. The Oregon Department of Transportation is urging drivers to not make U-turns on the highway.
Note that due to the continued construction, that new Exit 134 may not be obvious until the last minute, so prepare ahead of time. The speed limit through the construction zone remains 35 mph.
Drivers who want to get back onto the southbound U.S. 97 bypass from the shopping areas can take the new onramp at Robal Lane. Those who want to get to northbound U.S. 97 back toward Redmond just need to stay on the new U.S. 97 Business, where it will connect them via a new onramp.
Construction is not finished. Some lane changes are being made still on Business 97 and a ramp is being built from Third Street to Business 97, which is set to open in August.
The full Bend North Corridor Project is expected to be finished by Christmas, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Here is a Q&A on how to navigate the changes so far.
Southbound
How do I get to the shopping areas if I am coming from Redmond?
How do I pass the shopping areas if I am coming from Redmond?
- Stay to the left and don’t take Exit 134
What if I accidentally took Exit 134 and want to get back onto southbound Highway 97?
- Take a left at Robal Lane (Ulta is on the corner) and go to the onramp. You can also stay on Business 97 and it will take you to Empire Avenue, where you can get back on using the old Empire Avenue onramp.
Northbound
How do I get to the shopping areas if I am coming from anywhere south of Empire Avenue?
- Take Exit 135A. If you want to end up on Business 97, stay to the left after the exit. If you want to end up on U.S. 20 headed toward Sisters, stay to the right and take the old, looping onramp that you’re used to.
What if I miss Exit 135A?
- You will be headed out of the city on the new northbound 97 bypass. There is no exit after 135A.
How do I get to the shopping areas from Empire Avenue?
- You have to go to the light at Third Street and take a right.
What happens if I take the northbound onramp from Empire Avenue?
- You will be on the new northbound 97 bypass, which will take you out of the city. You can’t access the shopping areas if you take the northbound onramp from Empire.
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