• South Century Drive

    South Century Drive

    Sunriver Corridor Intersection Improvements

  • Welcome!

  • Deschutes County is looking at options to address congestion and safety concerns on South Century Drive.

    On the following pages, you can:

    • Learn about the South Century Drive intersection improvements
    • Get familiar with what's being considered at each location
    • Share your input! Tell us your preferences on the Venture Lane and Spring River Road roundabout options

     

    Your voice matters – let us know what you think! Weigh in now – this online event closes on April 17th, 2025.

  • Project area map

    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • To record your responses, be sure to click or tap the “Submit” button at the end.

  • Project Overview

  • Deschutes County is improving three key intersections along South Century Drive, a vital roadway serving the Sunriver and Three Rivers communities, as well as provide access to popular recreation sites in the Deschutes National Forest. These improvements aim to enhance traffic flow and safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

    The project includes upgrades to the intersections of Spring River Road, Venture Lane, and Huntington Road with South Century Drive.

  • How we got here

    In 2023, Deschutes County adopted their 2020-2040 Transportation System Plan (TSP), which was developed through data analysis and community feedback. The TSP identified the intersections of South Century Drive with Huntington Road and Spring River Road as High-Priority Projects and Venture Lane as a Medium Priority Project. Additionally, the County’s 2019 Transportation Safety Action Plan identified the Huntington Road intersection as a priority for safety improvements in transportation infrastructure improvements.

    What is a TSP? This is a long-range plan that identifies improvements to the County’s facilities and services to accommodate the projected population and employment growth within the County over the next 20 years. Along with input from the community, the TSP identifies opportunities to build upon the County’s existing transportation system and to make targeted investments in transportation infrastructure improvements.

  • Project area map

    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • Why now?

    These intersections experience the highest traffic volumes within the County roadway system, making them an important investment area to improve safety and traffic flow efficiency.

    By bundling these projects together, we are saving time and money while ensuring comprehensive improvements across the corridor.

    We’re working closely with local partners, including local businesses, the Sunriver Owners Association and Sunriver Resort, to ensure these projects meet community needs.

  • Funding

    Deschutes County has obligated funds for the improvements in the 2025-2029 Road CIP (Capital Improvements Plan).

  • What to expect

    All three intersections are being improved as one project – however they will follow different construction schedules.

    Venture Lane: We’re focusing on ensuring that the improvements increase safety and improve traffic patterns while maintaining access to local businesses, as well as the Three Rivers School. Improvements will support the smooth movement of all road users – vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Showcasing and soliciting public input on Initial designs is the primary focus of this online event. Construction of the Venture Lane improvements is anticipated in calendar year 2026, and will also be concurrent with the Spring River Road improvements.

    Spring River Road: Installation of a new roundabout will reduce the likelihood of serious injury and fatal crashes but will impact neighboring properties. Initial designs are the primary focus of this online event and are ready for public input. Construction of the Spring River Road improvements is anticipated in calendar year 2026, and will also be concurrent with the Venture Lane improvements.

    Huntington Road: This intersection, identified for its high crash rates, will be improved with a roundabout to reduce the likelihood of serious injury and fatal crashes. The design for this intersection is nearly complete, with construction set to begin in Summer 2025. A rendering of the proposed improvements at Huntington Road is shown below.

  • Construction anticipated to begin on Huntington roundabout July 2025 (image below)

    Rendering of the proposed improvements at Huntington Road

    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • Timeline

    project timeline graphic

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  • Project Considerations

  • The following considerations have been reviewed for each intersection design option at the Spring River Road and Venture Lane intersections.

  • Impacts:

    • Impact to traffic during construction and the necessary temporary improvements to keep traffic moving.
    • Venture Lane only: Impacts to business driveways and traffic circulation to access businesses and Three Rivers School.

    Land Acquisition:

    • Estimated area of private property needing to be acquired to construct permanent and temporary improvements (right-of-way).
    • Proximity impacts to existing residential and commercial properties.

    Estimated Cost:

    • Anticipated cost of construction.
    • Anticipated cost of right-of-way acquisition.

    Mobility:

    • Accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians.
    • Long-term traffic performance/operations.
    • Freight mobility through the intersection.

    Safety:

    • Crash reduction factors.
    • Reduction of conflict points.

  • Spring River Road

  • For the Spring River Road intersection, we are looking at two intersection options. For each of them, we have a conceptual design that shows how it would be configured and information about the project considerations mentioned previously.

    Please review the following information and tell us which option you would choose and why.

    Note: These visuals represent preliminary concepts which do not necessarily address all details considered.

  • SPRING RIVER ROAD INTERSECTION

    Option 1: Centered Roundabout

  • Illustration of the centered roundabout

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 1: Centered on Intersection
    Estimated Construction Cost $2.9M (Preferred)
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors Minor street stop control to Roundabout = 82% reduction (Preferred)
    Mobility Pedestrian/Bicycle Accommodations Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout (Preferred)
    Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Operates acceptably in Year 2045 (Preferred)
    Impacts Impacts During Construction ➤ All intersection movements maintained during construction.
    ➤ Extensive temporary roadway construction required. (Neutral)
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition ➤ Approximately 1 Acre
    ➤ Retains buffer between intersection and residences (Preferred)
    table mobile

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  • SPRING RIVER ROAD INTERSECTION

    Option 2: North Roundabout

  • Illustration of the north roundabout

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 2: North-Shifted
    Estimated Construction Cost $3.2M
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors Minor street stop control to Roundabout = 82% reduction
    Mobility Pedestrian/Bicycle Accommodations Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout
    Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Operates acceptably in Year 2045
    Impacts Impacts During Construction ➤ All intersection movements maintained during construction.
    ➤ Moderate temporary roadway construction required.
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition ➤ Greater than 1.5 Acres
    ➤ Close proximity to residences
    table mobile

    Click the table to enlarge in a new tab.

  • View the Full Evaluation Matrix for Spring River Rd

  • Provide your feedback

  • Venture Lane

  • For the Venture Lane intersection, we are looking at four intersection options. For each of them, we have a conceptual design that shows how it would be configured and information about the project considerations mentioned previously.

    Please review the following information and tell us which option you would choose and why.

    Note: These visuals represent preliminary concepts which do not necessarily address all details considered.

  • VENTURE LANE INTERSECTION

    Option 1: Peanut Roundabout

  • Illustration of the peanut roundabout

  • Use the image slider below to see the proposed roundabout (image to the right) and the current streetview (image to the left).

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 1: Peanut Roundabout
    Estimated Construction Cost $4.1M
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors Signal to Roundabout = 78% reduction
    Mobility Pedestrian/
    Bicycle Accommodations    		 Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout.
    Future Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Future traffic projections show westbound backups potentially reaching the gas station driveway.
    Freight ➤ Through traffic on South Century only needs to traverse through one roundabout.
    ➤ Direct access to the Business Park.
    ➤ Some out-of-direction travel for deliveries to the north half of the Business Park.
    Impacts Impact to Business Access & Circulation ➤ Venture Lane through traffic will need to circulate through the South Century roundabout in both directions.
    ➤ Closure of two business driveways.
    Access to Three Rivers School School traffic will navigate a more complex route to access the school.
    Impacts During Construction ➤ Will require temporary road and traffic shift during construction.
    ➤ Vehicles wanting to access south side of Business Park must loop around Venture Lane.
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition 1.5 acres
    table mobile

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  • VENTURE LANE INTERSECTION

    Option 2: Single Roundabout + Turn Lane

  • Illustration of the single roundabout and turn lane

  • Use the image slider below to see the proposed roundabout (image to the right) and the current streetview (image to the left).

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 2: Single Roundabout + Turn Lane
    Estimated Construction Cost $4.3M
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors ➤ Signal to Roundabout = 78% reduction
    ➤ New intersection with dedicated left turn lane = 33% reduction
    ➤ Results in uncontrolled movement on S Century Drive
    Mobility Pedestrian/
    Bicycle Accommodations    		 Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout.
    Future Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Operates acceptably in Year 2045
    Freight ➤ Through traffic on South Century only needs to traverse through one roundabout.
    ➤ Direct access to the business park with minimal out-of-direction travel.
    ➤ Option for freight to use roundabout or left-in, right-in, right-out intersection.
    Impacts Impact to Business Access & Circulation ➤ Maintains access to all business driveways.
    ➤ Counterclockwise through traffic on Venture Lane must use S Century roundabout.
    ➤ No left turns out at the south connection to SCD.
    Access to Three Rivers School ➤ Simple access to/from direction of school.
    ➤ Multiple ingress points for school traffic.
    Impacts During Construction Will require temporary road and rerouting during construction.
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition 1.1 acres
    table mobile

    Click the table to enlarge in a new tab.

  • VENTURE LANE INTERSECTION

    Option 3: Teardrop

  • Illustration of the teardrop roundabout

  • Use the image slider below to see the proposed roundabout (image to the right) and the current streetview (image to the left).

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 3: Teardrop Roundabout
    Estimated Construction Cost $3.5M
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors ➤ Signal to Roundabout = 78% reduction
    ➤ Minor street stop control to Roundabout = 82% reduction
    Mobility Pedestrian/
    Bicycle Accommodations    		 ➤ Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout.
    ➤ NB pedestrian/bicycle users must circulate farther east around both roundabouts.
    ➤ Right-turn bypass lane results in additional conflict point for pedestrians.
    Future Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Westbound traffic at the South Century roundabout is expected to back up, reaching the Venture Lane roundabout in the future.
    Freight ➤ Through traffic on South Century only needs to traverse through one roundabout.
    ➤ Direct access to the business park.
    ➤ Undesirable geometry for freight vehicles bound for Business Park.
    Impacts Impact to Business Access & Circulation ➤ Counterclockwise through traffic on Venture Lane must circulate to South Century roundabout.
    ➤ Closure of two business driveways.
    Access to Three Rivers School ➤ School traffic will navigate a more complex route to access the school.
    ➤ School buses will have to navigate tight radius and multiple concrete aprons.
    Impacts During Construction ➤ Most of the improvements can be constructed outside of existing roadway.
    ➤ Vehicles wanting to access south side of Business Park must loop around Venture Lane.
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition 1.6 acres
    table mobile

    Click the table to enlarge in a new tab.

  • VENTURE LANE INTERSECTION

    Option 4: Barbell

  • Illustration of the barbell roundabout

  • Use the image slider below to see the proposed roundabout (image to the right) and the current streetview (image to the left).

  • Key: Green = Preferred, Yellow = Neutral, Red = Not Preferred

    Evaluation Criteria Performance Measures Alternative 4: Barbell Roundabout
    Estimated Construction Cost $4.6M
    Safety Crash Reduction Factors Signal to Roundabout = 78% reduction
    Mobility Pedestrian/
    Bicycle Accommodations    		 Multiuse path circulation provided at roundabout.
    Future Traffic Performance/
    Operations    		 Operates acceptably in Year 2045
    Freight ➤ Through traffic on South Century has to traverse through two roundabouts.
    ➤ Direct access to the Business Park.
    Impacts Impact to Business Access & Circulation ➤ Traffic on Venture Lane will have multiple options to access South Century Drive, providing redundancy in connectivity. Maintains access to all business driveways.
    ➤ Counterclockwise through traffic on Venture Lane must use S Century roundabout.
    Access to Three Rivers School ➤ Simple access to/from direction of school.
    ➤ Multiple ingress points for school traffic.
    ➤ Two separate ingress/egress points along Venture Lane for school traffic.
    Impacts During Construction Will require temporary road and traffic shift during construction.
    Estimated Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition 2.1 acres
    table mobile

    Click the table to enlarge in a new tab.

  • View the full evaluation matrix for Venture Ln

  • Provide your feedback

  • Which of the four Venture Lane roundabout alternatives are your favorite? Rank your favorites below with 1 being your least favorite and 4 being most favorite. (Use ranking only once)

  •

  • Bike and Pedestrian Considerations

  • Safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities around the busy Venture Lane intersection are crucial to connect the businesses, Three Rivers School and residential areas.

    We are incorporating safe pedestrian options including at-grade crossings for each alternative and improved signing and striping to encourage use of the existing separated grade crossing at the railroad bridge east of Abbott Drive. We have heard community members express interest in installing a pedestrian undercrossing at South Century Drive near Venture Lane.

  • A new undercrossing has significant challenges at this location and is not expected to be built with this project.

    Here's why:

    • Flat topography makes an undercrossing impractical with the space limitations at this site, as these typically work best when the road is higher than the surrounding ground.
    • With the road and surrounding ground at the same level, the trail would need to be dug about 14 feet down in order to match the bottom of a new undercrossing structure.
    • This depth of excavation necessitates steep slopes and walls alongside the trail which creates an enclosed feeling and poor visibility along the curvilinear route.
    • Accessibility requirements (5% max slope) mean the trail would need to start descending about 250 feet before reaching the underpass structure. There is not enough space to create that long of an excavated trail on each side of where an undercrossing would be located.
    • The undercrossing would be 60 to 80 feet long under South Century Drive, creating a lengthy confined space with limited natural light.
    • Given these constraints, an undercrossing would add $700 thousand to $1 million to the overall project cost which was not forecasted in the County’s Capital Improvement Plan. This could potentially delay the project and the ability to address much needed improvements now.

  • All design options for this intersection include safer at-grade crossings. Compared to the existing signalized crossing, the proposed roundabout crossings will:

    • Improve visibility of pedestrians
    • Create TWO-STAGE CROSSINGS (Two single-lane one-way crossings)
    • Reduce vehicle speeds

    In addition to the intersection improvements, we are planning to make some additional low-cost safety improvements to address this need, including:

    • Wayfinding signage
    • Green striping to help bike lanes stand out more at conflict points at key locations

    The County will install these improvements prior to intersection construction to ensure there is a safe route for pedestrians and bicycles to avoid the construction zone if desired.

    Play the video below to learn more about roundabouts usage for bicyclists and pedestrians

  • Venture Lane Bike and Pedestrian Improvements

    The map below shows approximate locations of these improvements:

    map of the bike and pedestrian improvements at Venture Lane

    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • Next Steps

  • Thank you for participating in the South Century Drive: Sunriver Corridor Improvements Project online open house!

    Your feedback will help us confirm that we are moving in the right direction for this work. We'll host a second Online Open House in Summer 2025, where we'll present recommended concepts for Venture Ln and Spring River Rd.

    Sign up for project emails to stay in touch and learn more as we move forward.

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