It’s going to start getting easier to pass on the Powell Butte Highway between Prineville and Redmond.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) contractors will start breaking ground this week on new passing lanes. By late summer, the lanes should be open.

In other road construction in Central Oregon:

* In Redmond, Evergreen Avenue between SW 3rd Street and Railroad Avenue is temporarily closed to through traffic for a canal piping project. Construction should be finished in early March. There are detours.

* In Redmond, Juniper Avenue between Highway 97 and SW 7th Street is temporarily closed. Work will likely continue through early March.

* In Redmond, SW Canal Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Evergreen Avenue id temporarily closed to through traffic to facilitate canal piping work taking place in the area. The road closure will last another three to four weeks.

* In Redmond, near the Fred Meyer, there are temporary detour lanes in place on Highway 97. This is also for a canal piping project.

* In Bend, on 3rd Street, which is also Business 97, crews are working on a bridge project located near the junction of Butler Market Road and Mount Washington Drive. Crews will be working nights but perhaps also days. The project is expected to be completed by April.

* Between Bend and Redmond near Deschutes Market Road, an ODOT contractor is replacing the Pilot Butte Canal Bridge. Crews will be working for the next several weeks to prepare for the installation of a new section of culvert.

* South of Madras, crews are continuing to work to install new bridges. The bridges are located 12 and 16 miles south of Madras on 97.