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Bend's Newest Roundabout Opens

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Local SE Bend residents turnout out to welcome the opening of the city's 32nd Roundabout at Murphy and Parrell road on Thursday. The opening came one month early and city officials say it will come in under it's $2 million dollar budget. On hand were Mayor Clinton, council members, Fire Chief Larry Langston, City Manager Eric King, and others.

Langston told gatherers that the new roundabout will provide quicker and easier access for fire access. The SE Fire station nearby makes 1200 response calls each year and the new roundabout will provide quicker access to Highway 97, SE 3rd, Brookswood, and other locations, he said. The first two vehicles to use the new roundabout were fire vehicles, after the dedication ribbon was cut by Mayor Clinton and others.

Local resident, Monica Standen, said she is thrilled with the new roundabout telling the Source Weekly that "there have been so many accidents at this corner." Between 2007 and 2015, there were 16 reported crashes at the intersection, eight of which involved an injury.