BEND, Ore. – An electronic reader board is advising Bend’s Third Street motorists of yet another road closure that begins next week – and this time, North Division Street will be closed for about six months, for a $12 million fish screen replacement project.

After more than 20 years of design work and planning, the North Unit Irrigation District project will use a large, tracked crawler crane to remove the more than 80-year-old fish screens and replace them with ones that meet current fishery requirements, at the intake on the main canal.

It took years to acquire the needed permits and secure funding from four sources federal and state agencies, about half from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the rest from Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife, Water Resources Department and Watershed Enhancement Board.

But why does that work require such a long road closure, until early April? (Drivers will need to come in from the south, at Revere Avenue, to reach local businesses.)

“Unfortunately, there’s no other way around it,” said NUID General Manager Josh Bailey, explaining how the crane has to swing around to do its work in a fairly confined space near the road.

Bailey said the extended time is needed for the contractor to demolish the existing infrastructure and rebuild it, having it all installed before next spring’s irrigation season. The southbound lane of Division was closed for several weeks this spring as work got underway, employing a smaller crane.

Bailey explained how the current fish screens consist of “giant drums that spin, and the water comes in at 90 degrees."

“The current screens do not meet current fish screen criteria because of the approach velocity and angle of approach,” Bailey said.

The new screens will funnel fish into a pipe and return them to the river. The current system simply blocks fish from entering the canal, but "it is prone to failure, and we have to lift the screens to perform emergency repairs."

Not only are the old screens prone to break down, fish would get in the main canal, requiring an annual fish rescue.

“When we shut off our canal, we've had a biologist team using electro-fishers, shock the fish, net them and if they are native, return them to the (Deschutes River), and the non-native, we use them to stock ponds” in the area, he said.

While replacing the old screens is expected to take about eight months total, Bailey said, "Hopefully we never have to do it again, for another 50 to 100 years."

There are other city projects extending past the end of summer, as this city news release details:

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Emergency response access will be maintained at all times.  

Access to all businesses will be open throughout construction. Follow posted business access signs.

One side of the undercrossing sidewalk path will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.

Franklin Avenue Paving Work Rescheduled Due to Weather  

Due to inclement weather, paving work on Franklin Avenue from NE Third Street to NE Eighth Street has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9. Temporary one-way traffic closures will be required, and access to driveways and on-street parking will be temporarily restricted during paving operations. Sidewalks and bike lanes will remain open. Business access will be maintained throughout construction.

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Tuesday, Sept. 8: South side of Franklin Avenue from Third Street to Eighth Street. Requires eastbound traffic closure (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

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Wednesday, Sept. 9: North side of Franklin Avenue from Third Street to Eighth Street. Requires westbound traffic closure (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

A detour will be in place on NE Third Street, Greenwood Avenue and NE Eighth Street.

Frequent traffic changes will continue on Franklin Avenue. Stay informed and sign up for weekly traffic reports at bendoregon.gov/traffic