The Rev. Rick Russell, the pastor at Free Methodist Church, thought the plan to realign a section of U.S. Highway 97 in Madras might impact his church — and it looks like he’s right.

This fall, after public hearings and examining several options, the city of Madras has settled on a plan that will veer northbound traffic south of downtown on Highway 97 further east. The highway will go east at L Street and then connect with South Adams Drive. It impacts the town’s south “Y,” where the highway splits through the town, and will handle projected increased traffic at the perilous intersection.

“It’s dangerous and it’s failing,” Madras Mayor-elect Melanie Widmer said of the area.

Now, city officials said it’s time to figure out how to foot the construction bill, and for some businesses, it’s time to ready themselves for change.

“I understand there’s not a perfect way for this project to happen,” said Russell, whose congregation will have to drive past his church on Adams Drive and double back to get to the building after the realignment. “Someone or some businesses are going to be negatively impacted. It’s going to be somebody, and if it’s going to be us, that’s OK. We were holding out hope for a solution that fits well for everyone, but maybe this is it.”

Brad DeHart, the project leader with ODOT, said that the construction costs are still unclear.

“There are figures being kicked around anywhere from $4 million to $12 million,” DeHart said. “I won’t offer a figure because I would be circumventing the process. Right now, we’re trying to work on solid figures so we can move forward. It’s definitely a multimillion-dollar project.”

DeHart said funding will likely come from a variety of federal, state and city sources.

City Administrator Mike Morgan said the city has committed about $2 million to the project.

“Getting funding for projects like this is long, difficult and competitive,” Morgan said.

“Because it’s a federal highway … at some point, the city doesn’t have the entire responsibility to fix this,” he said.

In addition to making way for more growth, officials said the realignment will also help fix one of the state’s more dangerous intersections.

Based on vehicle crash data from 2004 through 2006, there were a total of 10 accidents, three of which resulted in serious injuries, at the intersection of Highway 97 and J Street, according to information from ODOT. Based on crash frequency, crash rate and severity, the site was ranked as one of the top 10 percent worst crash sites in Oregon in 2007.

DeHart said he estimates there will be about eight businesses impacted by the realignment.

Bob Bryant, ODOT regional manager, said for any businesses that could be displaced or where some of their property will be impacted, there are plans in place.

“We pay for the property and we work with the business owner to relocate the business and provide assistance,” Bryant said.

Peter Carlson owns the one building that looks likely to be displaced by the realignment. Carlson has owned it for about five years and has two businesses leasing the space from him.

“It’s progress,” he said. “And people get displaced by progress from time to time. I’m confident we’ll be compensated correctly.”