Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s Department of Transportation could be forced to scale back a planned renovation of Highway 20 in downtown Sisters.  That’s after two grants connected with the project failed to pan out.

For years now, ODOT has been working on a plan to repair the road where it passes though downtown Sisters.  But the plan also includes other enhancements to improve downtown livability - things like sidewalk improvements and curb extensions. 

Project managers had hoped to pay for some of those improvements with  federal and state dollars.  But after missing out on a first round of grants, planners are now seeking alternate sources of funding. 

Peter Murphy is a spokesman with ODOT.  He says regardless of the outcome, the bulk of the money -- $4.6 million -- has already been secured.

“So it’s not by any means the end of the road.  Sometimes we get the funds that we look for.  Sometimes we don’t get the funds that we look for. But the bottom line is we have the core number to move forward with and then we add on to that as things come to pass.” 

Murphy says the project is still on schedule. 

Construction is set to begin in 2013.