Neff and Purcell Improvement Project Update – September 1, 2023

SAFETY FIRST  

5 Safety Tips for Back-To-School Season  

• Know where the school zones are located on your daily commute.  
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.  
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children.  
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding a stop sign.  
• Never park in bike lanes.
• Be alert for children!  

Find state rules about school zones and school buses at Oregon Department of Transportation : Oregon Driver Manual – Section 4: Sharing the Road : Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services : State of Oregon

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

As franchise utilities such as cable, phone and internet are nearing completion of their relocation activities in certain portions of the project, the City’s contractor has been able to complete other underground public utility improvements such as sewer, stormwater and water facility upgrades. After underground facility construction is completed, the construction of segmental retaining walls can commence. 

One of three segmental retaining walls on the project is now completed and will allow for fill material to be placed adjacent the wall, raising of the roadway towards its final grade. These portions of the roadway will then be prepared for new curb and sidewalk construction. Drilled-shaft foundations for future traffic signal poles are also being constructed.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES  – September 4 – September 8 

Purcell Extension 

• Construction activities along the Purcell Extension will be less than typical during this time, with most work occurring on the roadway shoulders where widening and new curb and sidewalk are to be installed. 
• Franchise relocation work continues. There may be periods of limited activity in the modernization section while franchise utilities are concentrated on work in the intersection. 
• The full closure of the modernization portion of Purcell Boulevard ends with the completion of utility relocation across Purcell. 
• Some remaining miscellaneous water work will be completed. Impacted properties will receive notice if their water service is expected to be impacted. 

Neff and Purcell Intersection 

• Construction of the 15-foot-high retaining wall on the NE corner of the intersection continues.
• Installation of the traffic signal steel bases continues.
• The franchise utilities, such as gas, power, cable, etc., are progressing towards completion of relocating facilities to their ideal locations and depths. 
• Preparation for 7000 cubic yards of fill dirt to be brought in to raise and flatten the whole intersection. 

RESOURCES

• Commute Options is here to help you with transportation options during construction. Join the Neff/Purcell Improvement Project network on Get There Connect to match up in a carpool, explore your transit, biking, walking options, help reduce traffic and more! Sign up today and learn more about your chance to win a $50 gift card! Visit Commute Options for more information. 

• The City is committed to keeping neighbors, businesses and the community informed throughout the project through public informational meetings, mailings, emails and the project website. For more information, contact the project team at neffpurcell@bendoregon.gov.
• Please contact us if you need any additional materials that would be helpful to spread the word to your patients, clients, customers and delivery personnel regarding detouring and closures.
• Share the website information where others can also sign up for updates: bendoregon.gov/neff-purcell

ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS 

• Eastbound (south option) – go south on Eighth Street, east on Greenwood Avenue, north on 27th Street  
• Eastbound (north option) – go north on Eighth Street, east on Butler Market Road and south on 27th Street 
• Westbound (south option) – go south on 27th Street, west on Greenwood Avenue, north on Eighth Street  
• Westbound (north option) – go north on 27th Street, west on Butler Market Road and south on Eighth Street 

Please use marked temporary pedestrian detours. Please be aware these temporary pedestrian access routes will change as needed during different phases of work.  

Interactive Traffic Impacts Map

You may also monitor current and upcoming detours and closures at bendoregon.gov/traffic. 

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? 

• Project Phone Line: (458) 202-7348
• Project Email: neffpurcell@bendoregon.gov
• Project Website: bendoregon.gov/neff-purcell
• Project Engineer: Drew Wells, PE 

This project is partly funded by the voter-approved 2020 Transportation General Obligation (GO) Bond. To learn about more projects around Bend included in the GO Bond, visit bendoregon.gov/gobond.