BEND, Ore. — A major transportation project could soon reshape Franklin Avenue in Bend, with construction expected to begin as early as September 2 if approved by the City Council.

The project focuses on Franklin Avenue between Fourth and Eighth streets, aiming to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Planned upgrades include widened sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings, and a redesigned bike lane that will be separated from vehicle traffic.

“For the vulnerable users, for bicycles and pedestrians, it's just making it safer and then safer for vehicles too, as there’s fear of conflict points, pedestrians, bicycles, cars. We're all trying to use the same space that just makes for improved conditions," said Todd Johnson, Bend Senior Project Engineer.

If approved, work will begin with phased closures designed to minimize traffic disruption. One lane of travel will remain open throughout construction. The first phase will close eastbound traffic between Fourth and Eighth streets while keeping westbound lanes open. After that section is completed, the closure will reverse, affecting westbound traffic.

According to city officials, detours will be posted on Greenwood Avenue, and drivers should allow for extra travel time. Pedestrian crossings on Franklin will also be limited during construction, though access to businesses will remain open.

To prepare residents and businesses for the impacts, the city will host a Preconstruction Information Booth on Monday, August 25, from 4–6 p.m. at Juniper Park (800 NE Sixth St., near the tennis courts). Project team members will be available to answer questions and provide information about timelines, detours, and design updates.

The Franklin Avenue project is part of Bend’s broader efforts to improve multimodal transportation and reduce conflicts between cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Additional design details for the corridor between Fifth and Eighth streets are available on the Bend Bikeway website.

City officials noted that dates remain tentative and subject to change, but if all approvals move forward, work could begin in less than two weeks.

Originally reported by Central Oregon Daily News.