ODOT Area Manager Robert Townsend told BANA members a revised concept for extending HWY 97 North of Empire and Cooley will be put out to bid spring of 2021.  The revised concept is a slimmed down version of the earlier concept studied in 2014.  It focuses solely on HWY 97 rather than adjacent improvements such as a roundabout at O.B.Riley and Empire. That project will be completed by the City of Bend. 

With $135 million in grants from the Federal, county and city governments, the State agency will add lanes connecting the Highway at Empire to carry regional traffic around the businesses on Third Street.  The road will be an overpass at Cooley with no off ramp at that intersection. 
Property to be purchased includes the storage facility at Cooley, the RV sales business and other businesses south of Robal Road. 
The new alignment will be west of the railroad tracks. 
For more information  https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx? project=14020