TERREBONNE, Ore. — A years-long transportation project has reached completion in this small Central Oregon community, where a redesigned interchange, new paths and other road improvements are intended to make it safer to travel near the intersection of U.S. 97 and Lower Bridge Way.
The project was marked by a ribbon-cutting attended by Terrebonne Community School students and families, as well as local and state officials. Students contributed artwork based on the question, “What do safe roads mean to me?” The event placed the project’s transportation changes alongside the everyday routes used by children and families moving through the community.
A new layout for highway traffic
At the centre of the work is a full-access interchange with combined dog-bone ramp terminals at the U.S. 97 and Lower Bridge Way intersection. A dog-bone-style roundabout sits beneath the interchange, allowing local traffic to move through the area while freight and other highway traffic continues along U.S. 97.
According to the report cited in the source material, the new design removes the need for drivers to make left turns across oncoming highway traffic. It also allows motorists to enter and leave U.S. 97 without waiting for a gap in traffic. The project is identified as project number 21162.
| Project element | Purpose described at the event |
|---|---|
| Interchange and roundabout | Support access across U.S. 97 and keep local traffic moving |
| Sidewalks, bicycle lanes and shoulders | Improve connections for people walking and cycling |
| South-end turnaround | Allow southbound drivers to change direction and return north |
| Signs, pavement, lighting and striping | Complete the road and traffic upgrades |
Connections beyond the highway
The construction extends beyond the interchange itself. Crews added or improved sidewalks, bicycle lanes and shoulders to strengthen links between Terrebonne Community School, nearby neighbourhoods and other destinations in town. The work is intended to give people walking or cycling a safer route through an area also used by highway travellers.
A new turnaround was built at the southern end of Terrebonne, allowing southbound drivers to safely reverse direction and head north on U.S. 97. The project also introduced gentler curves at the entrance to town, a design intended to encourage drivers to reduce their speed. Upgraded pavement, signs, road markings and lighting were included in the work.
Officials emphasize shared responsibility
Bill Martin said during the celebration that the changes would help people travel safely through the community, whether they are driving to work, walking to school or passing through Central Oregon. He also said the project demonstrated how state and local partners can work together on transportation needs.
“What do safe roads mean to me?”
Other speakers listed in the report included interim Oregon Department of Transportation director Chris Warner, Phil Chang, Patti Adair and Terrebonne Community School principal Cyndi Ganfield. Their participation reflected the project’s connection to both the state highway network and the community’s local streets, paths and school surroundings.
The Terrebonne in this story is in Central Oregon, in the United States, and is distinct from Terrebonne, Que., the city covered by WE NEWS. The available source does not provide a total project cost, construction timeline or detailed traffic-safety measurements. It does, however, describe a completed interchange and a broader set of road, walking and cycling improvements designed to change how residents, students and highway users move through the Oregon community.
