U.S. 97 Overview and Alternatives
U.S. 97 plays an important role in moving people and goods between the West Coast and Canada, within Oregon and within La Pine. It’s also vital for rescue and recovery in case of a natural disaster. U.S. 97 generally parallels the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad within Wickiup Junction, creating east-west barriers for walking, biking and driving. Any changes to or near the highway need to include:
- Mobility for regional freight and passenger traffic.
- Facilities for walking and biking.
- Connections to the city’s street system.
- Road “features” for an urban context, per ODOT policy.
Highway Context
ODOT’s new Blueprint for Urban Design guides the design of state highways within specific roadway contexts. Wickiup Junction’s context is generally defined as a “rural community,” with these roadway elements suggested for U.S. 97:
- Narrower lane widths to reduce crossing distances at intersections and to manage speeds along the highway.
- A multiuse path near but not on U.S. 97, for walking and biking
How U.S. 97 Could Look
