Bend has been discussing a potential vehicle bridge crossing in SW Bend for sometime, and they just announced a study is being considered.
Will Bend build another drivable bridge over the Deschutes?
“For residents of Bend’s southern neighborhoods, the Deschutes River is a nearby attraction with trails and fishing holes. But the river is also a barrier, forcing residents to drive a circuitous route to reach areas on the city’s west side. Now city officials say they intend to look into road and bridge-building options that could shorten drive times and reduce traffic on Reed Market Road. An upcoming study could identify potential locations for the bridge. Guidance for the study is derived from the city’s Transportation System Plan, which describes over-capacity conditions at the major bridge crossings in Bend.
Read more at: https://bendbulletin.com/2025/11/07/will-bend-build-another-drivable-bridge-over-the-deschutes/“
It is a well needed one with all the traffic. So I decided to design a cheap alternative, ramps to jump the Deschutes River suing AI and tongue in cheek for fun.
Cheaper and faster to construct, and a more fun option, I present you the SW Bend Deschutes River Ramps!
That is a Bend starter kit, a Subaru with a Labrador or Golden Retriever crossing the Deschutes River.
That got me thinking about thinking out of the box for the also needed roundabout with greater capacity and fun at Reed Market and Brookswood.
Imagine a stack of three concentric “donuts”:
Level 3 (top): High-speed through traffic with a view of the scenic Old Mill District
Level 2 (middle): Standard city roundabout connections
Level 1 (ground): Local access, bikes, and pedestrians
All three are vertically aligned over the same center point, with spiral ramps connecting them.
Think: a mini Guggenheim meets SimCity traffic experiment.
I present the 3-tiered roundabout aka The Deschutes Vertical Mobility Hub.
Ascending spirals, sweeping views of the Deschutes, and a gentle climb to the top ring create an experience almost like a miniature scenic overlook, built into your commute.
It’s a bold (insane) solution tailored to Bend’s unique geography, its growth, and because this is Bend, its appetite for projects that are a little bit smart, a little bit weird, and always memorable.
Let’s be honest: drivers will talk about it.
Visitors will photograph it.
Local kids will nickname it “The Stack.”
It would become part of Bend’s identity as a city that embraces both nature and engineering creativity.
And of course, this was all a fun tongue in cheek AI lunchtime exploration after a strong coffee.