June 26, 2023
Through the Newport Avenue Improvements Project, the City of Bend, Oregon sets a strong example of how to simultaneously improve a roadway along with sanitary sewer, water, and stormwater facilities. In addition to efficiently delivering this project through the construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) method, Bend continues to lead the way with using roundabouts to solve challenges at constrained urban intersections. In this case, a unique roundabout design was the solution to a puzzling congestion and safety issue in front of the Newport Avenue Market.
After two years of closure to construct above- and below-ground improvements, the City of Bend reopened Newport Avenue to the public in June 2023.
A “Synergy Project”
The Newport Corridor Improvements Project originated from the need to replace aging stormwater pipes and facilities, in order to reduce the quantity of stormwater entering the Deschutes River and to improve the quality of the stormwater that does return to the river. It became what the City of Bend calls a “synergy project”-a single project where all deficient and near-deficient infrastructure is replaced at once to maximize efficiency. The City recognized that because they needed to close this busy street, they should incorporate transportation improvements while they were at it!
Kittelson supported the City during the project development phase to identify changes to the transportation system along the corridor to improve its function for all users. Next, we joined the Parametrix-led team to support the transportation improvements through the design phase. Our recommendations on this project led to continuous sidewalks, striped bike lanes, new pedestrian crossings, accessible ramps, and updated or added street lighting. We worked closely with the CM/GC team lead, who delivered the project through the design and construction phases.
Newport Avenue’s Dogbone Roundabouts
One set of intersections posed unique challenges to congestion and safety: the 11th Street/Newport Avenue and 12th Street/Newport Avenue intersections. Vehicle turning and pedestrian conflicts were occurring at these intersections, intensified by poor roadway geometry and sight lines.
What was it about this stretch of roadway that was causing more conflicts?
To identify the most efficient solution for these intersections, we turned to driver psychology. Kittelson’s landscape architect JP Weesner simulated a driver’s perspective, demonstrating that the driver viewshed (the area that’s visible to them from behind the wheel) opened abruptly when the Newport Avenue Market came into view. While the rest of Newport Avenue is generally enclosed by trees and buildings along the roadway, the grocery store is situated differently, set back from the street with a parking lot in front of it. This sudden expansion of the viewshed was causing drivers to unconsciously be less focused on the things and people in front of them, making it difficult for drivers to see all potential conflicts.
The City needed a near-term solution to make the street safer within the current urban form. Enter: the dogbone roundabouts. This pair of roundabouts, uniquely shaped to fit the constrained intersections, serves to guide the driver through 11th and 12th Streets by streamlining their viewshed. Because a driver is focused on navigating through the roundabouts, they are more attentive to what’s in front of them and less likely to be distracted or influenced by the open space surrounding the intersections.
The dogbone roundabouts serve to guide the driver through the intersections by streamlining their viewshed and reducing distractions.
Small City, National Roundabout Leader
The dogbone roundabouts support Bend’s growing reputation as a national leader in using roundabouts to solve congestion and safety issues at urban intersections. The City follows a practice of giving preference to roundabouts as a safe and efficient form of intersection control. There are no traffic signals on the west side of Bend, and 47 roundabouts have been constructed in this small city since the City’s first roundabout at Century Drive and Colorado Boulevard. We at Kittelson have had the opportunity to be involved in 36 of them!
Bend Cuts the Ribbon on Newport Avenue
Newport Avenue is once again open to the public, with secure infrastructure below ground and a variety of above-ground improvements to make the corridor safer for all modes of transportation. If you’d like to learn more about the process of designing and building consensus for the dogbone roundabouts, or any other details of the project, don’t hesitate to reach out!