July 8, 2022 3:50 a.m.

County Commissioners and the Douglas County Public Works Department have announced the start of construction for the Windy Creek Bridge Replacement Project.

A release said it is located along the north end of Reuben Road about a quarter of a mile northeast of Glendale. The project is slated to begin on Monday and continue through the end of the year.

The project includes the replacement of the existing bridge which was built in 1959. The new structure will be a wider and longer concrete bridge to help address streambed erosion issues, provide a six-foot wide shoulder to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic and aid in fire prevention by access to the South County Community Wildfire Protection Area, specifically the Mt. Reuben Firewise Site. The release said the project also includes enhancements to the Windy Creek streambed, as well as a few much- needed improvements to Reuben Road. In addition, the City of Glendale plans to complete the installation of a new waterline.

Starting Monday, Reuben Road will be closed to all traffic between Azalea Glen Road and Brown Street. The road will remain closed through the duration of the project. All through traffic will need to utilize the posted detour via Sether Avenue to Brown Road. Motorists on adjacent roads are asked to watch out for intermittent lane closures, construction vehicles, construction workers and flagging crews.

Douglas County Public Works will manage the bridge replacement project, in partnership with contractor Waldron & Sons in Bend. The new bridge was designed by David Evans & Associates and i.e. Engineering. The total estimated cost of the bridge replacement project is $1.3 million and comes from Title III dedicated infrastructure funding.

Contact Public Works at 440-4481 for more information.

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