A month ago, Asha Turnbull’s commute between school and her home in Tumalo took about 15 minutes. These days, thanks to detours put up in early May for the city’s road reconstruction at a roundabout in NorthWest Crossing, she needs to plan for an additional 30 minutes.

“Traffic is so bad, the roundabouts get really backed up after school,” said the Summit High junior, speaking at a convenience store in NorthWest Crossing, where drivers are detoured from Newport Avenue to NW College Way. “It’s hard to get home because the roundabouts get backed up.”

For Asha and other commuters in northwest Bend, getting around the area has become a corn maze-like experience as drivers seek quicker passages through surrounding neighborhoods.

The road closures are expected to last until June 27 as city construction crews make long-awaited repairs at the roundabout at NW Shevlin Park Road and NW Mt. Washington Drive. The roundabout receives significant traffic by recreationalists, as it sits along the route to Shevlin Park, which is popular with locals due to its hiking and biking trails and fishing pond.

The city has asked drivers to stick to the main routes, including a detour through Central Oregon Community College, and avoid increasing traffic in neighborhoods. Still, plenty of drivers opt for the maze of neighborhoods over the main routes, said Asha’s father, Dave Turnbull.

“People get impatient waiting at the roundabouts,” said the elder Turnbull. “So they give up and go through the neighborhoods.”

The city would like drivers to be respectful.

“Many know the shortcuts and they try to avoid our designated detours. We would like to ask travelers through the area to be respectful of the neighbors who live there,” Anne Aurand, communications director for the city of Bend, said in an email.

The city heard complaints from residents in the nearby Valhalla neighborhood shortly after the detour went in place May 13, as drivers entered the neighborhood in search of an alternative route through the area, Aurand said. Access to the area from Polestar Avenue was blocked due to the complaints.

New signs along the detour road to COCC warn drivers to slow down and crosswalks have been made more visible, said Ron Paradis, director of college relations for COCC.

“Traffic is heavier, but people seem to be observing the speed limits. So far we haven’t had any problems,” said Paradis.

The roundabout under construction is one of the oldest in Bend and is being rebuilt as part of the city’s street preservation project this summer. The Bend City Council has authorized about $7.04 million for street preservation work to improve 125 “lane miles” — a measurement that is greater than the actual length of roadway being worked on because it involves multiple lanes, turn lanes and bike lanes.

Most drivers seem to be taking the roundabout detour with a grain of salt.

“It’s still the greatest place to live, so I can deal with roundabout construction,” said the elder Turnbull. “This is nothing compared to Portland or L.A.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7818, mkohn@bendbulletin.com