Apartment complex will increase traffic patrols
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton Police Chief Chuck Byram is preparing for new problems on the road as Pendleton grows its available housing. Byram said the growth is vital and will make Pendleton better, but determining how to address what it will mean on a day-to-day basis is vital.
He is especially concerned about the Westgate Apartments going up right across from the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution and how it will impact traffic on Westgate. There are three major employers in the immediate area (EOCI, Keystone, and Newlyweds) as well as the Blue Mountain Community College baseball field at this time of year.
“The traffic flow is definitely going to pick up,” he said. “That’s a 40 mile an hour zone there. Those are deadly conditions for broadside accidents coming out of there.”
The apartment complex has two ways in and out. Byram said he will increase patrols in the area.
“I want to see people stopping at those intersections and making sure those intersections are cleared before they proceed out into those intersections to avoid something tragic from happening,” he said.
Byram stressed that housing growth is a good thing, but he would be remiss in not trying to anticipate future problems.
“It’s only going to help us, so I’m excited to see it but it definitely causes me some concern, especially there on Westgate,” he said.
