Murphy Corridor Improvements

Photo Credit: Credit: K&E Excavating (Steve Smith)

Bend’s southeast quadrant is well positioned to accommodate the region’s rapid population growth but had several issues that needed to be addressed to do so, including a north-south railroad line passing through the heart of the city. The Murphy Corridor Improvements project enhances a key passage in the southeast quadrant, including a critical, grade-separated railroad crossing to greatly improve the area’s travel times.

This Progressive Design-Build (PDB) project included six transportation subprojects, including:

• Constructing three new, single-lane roundabouts at 15th Street, Brosterhous Road and Country Club Road
• Extending Murphy Road to SE 15th Street, including a critical bridge over the railroad line
• Modernizing the corridor with “complete street” multimodal improvements for bikes, pedestrians and vehicles from Parrell Road to Brosterhous Road
• Adding about 4,000 feet of new water main and storm facilities

The project would improve safety on newly connected roads for trucks, cars, bikes and pedestrians and provide a vital link for emergency medical services (EMS) from southern Bend to St. Charles Health System’s Bend campus. By maintaining a focus on making best use of project funds, the team delivered the project 18 months earlier than the city’s original schedule and $1.3 million (4%) under budget.

Progressive Design-Build Provides Needed Flexibility

The City of Bend seized upon the Progressive Design-Build contract’s flexibility to incorporate additional work to solve issues for the city or project team. For example, the new high school adjacent to the corridor lacked a suitable connection to water service. To create synergy with the school district, the city proposed adding the new water connection into the Murphy Corridor project scope as it would give the contractor (a joint venture between K&E Excavating and Hamilton Construction) an early work opportunity for crews. Other city-added scope items included a third roundabout, pedestrian improvements, and public utilities and parking for adjacent land development.

The design-build firm worked with team members to ensure core principles aligned, by building trust, ensuring integrity, fostering collaboration, and encouraging transparency and flexibility. The Progressive Design-Build contract proved an excellent vehicle for well-aligned teams by focusing on making the best possible use of funds and emphasizing innovation and creative thinking. Despite major unforeseen, schedule-impacting conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was able to complete the work under budget and earlier than the city’s original schedule.

Design-Build Team

Photos