Redmond officials said on June 10 they will transmit the city’s position to the Oregon Department of Transportation over a proposed safety project at the O’Neil Junction on Highway 97 that would add a median and reduce two lanes to one on a section south to Terrebonne.

Mayor Fitch described the council’s concerns with a plan ODOT circulated that would install a median through the O’Neil Junction northward and reduce southbound lanes, a change staff said could eliminate left turns from Pershall and O’Neil and reconfigure dedicated left turn movements. The mayor said the city supports taking steps to improve safety at the junction but disagrees with the proposed lane reduction and believes ODOT can retain two travel lanes in each direction within the existing right‑of‑way.

“We do agree that safety measures need to be taken there,” the mayor said, “but it is very problematic to do what they're doing, because I think it'll lead to more accidents, more problems than it might solve.” Staff said Keith had drafted a letter to ODOT articulating the city's position and that the city would send that letter on the next day and continue discussions with ODOT.

Council did not take a formal vote on the matter at the June 10 meeting; staff said they planned to send the draft letter and pursue follow‑up conversations with ODOT to seek design changes that preserve two lanes while addressing safety.

Why it matters: Highway 97 is a major regional route; design changes can alter local access and traffic flow and therefore draw sustained community interest. The city’s letter aims to preserve local travel capacity while cooperating on safety improvements.