Bend's $32 million Hawthorne Crossing final design up for public review

BEND, Ore. -- ODOT and the city of Bend have completed design work and plan a public and online open house later this month to explain the details and timeline for the $32 million project.

Here's ODOT's Friday announcement, with added details:

We've reached a major milestone for the Hawthorne Crossing project! ODOT and the City of Bend have partnered closely with our consulting team to refine the bridge design and we’re ready to show the community.

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to explore the final design, hear how community feedback and technical analysis have shaped the project, and learn about the next steps and timeline. Your continued involvement helps us ensure this project reflects the needs and values of the Bend community.

Open House Details:

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend

A virtual open house will also be available on the project website from October 20 to November 3.

When completed, Hawthorne Crossing will create a safe, convenient connection for people walking, biking, and rolling between east and west Bend.

The new bridge will enhance mobility, improve safety, and support healthier, more affordable transportation options.

Together, ODOT and the City of Bend are committed to delivering a project that reflects local priorities and strengthens connections across the community.

Funding for this project comes from federal sources ($25.7 million), state funds ($6 million), and city bond dollars ($1 million).

If all goes as planned, the crossing project would go out to bid in about a year, with construction taking place in 2028-29, ODOT says on the project page.

"With federal funding requirements, ODOT is now managing the project, with the city as a heavily engaged partner, supporting the bridge design development," the agency says.

"Historically, there have been physical, socioeconomic, and access disparities between east and west Bend," ODOT says. "The City has long been separated by U.S. 97 and the railroad, both of which run north-south.

"When the Bend Parkway was built in the 1990s, the disparity between the east and west sides of the community grew. West Bend has better walking, rolling, and cycling access to goods and services, while east Bend has fewer resources within walking distance.

"The Hawthorne Crossing will help connect east and west Bend, improving travel options and enhancing livability for those who live and work in the Bend Central District," ODOT says.

The agency lists these benefits of the new east-west route:

• Connection: Provide a connection between downtown and many popular eastside destinations, as well as transit and mobility hubs.

• Safety: Provide a safer, more comfortable and more visible route for biking and walking than the current undercrossings of Franklin and Greenwood, which are limited by the railroad bridge.

• Mobility: Offer a wide path that allows for separation of people biking from people walking or using mobility devices, reducing potential conflicts.

• Access: Improve access to jobs, schools, services and other daily needs, especially for people in the area with limited incomes and people walking, using a mobility device, or riding a bike.

• Economic Development: The nearby industrial area is intended to transition to a mixed-use area where people can live, work, and play, supporting complete community goals to co-locate housing and employment alongside community services and amenities.

• Reduce congestion: Allow travelers a safe and comfortable alternative to driving to help alleviate congestion.

• Environmental sustainability: Invest in active travel options that can reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality.

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Kebler and her Elves

Friday, October 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM

The City of Bend only pushed for this because they wanted to move City Hall over to 1st St, which is why they have been buying up all of the property in the BCD. Then they realized they have no idea how to manage a budget, and realized they could not afford to move forward with that plan, so then they bought the Pacific Source building, another business and employer that they ran out of town. Bend's own traffic studies show that less than 200 pedestrians use Greenwood and Franklin daily. This pedestrian sits less than 0.1 mile from these two crossings, but will require biking up and down a major self designed hill, that Greenwood and Franklin won't have. The small group of people that might use this bridge, will never justify the massive cost. This bridge will also hurt downtown, as it cuts off one of the primary driving exits for downtown, and replaces it will walking path directly leading to homeless camps. Less money will be spent downtown, and petty crime will increase.