Adams Avenue Is Becoming Downtown Sisters' Other Way Across Town
October 8, 2026
October 8, 2026
Adams Avenue was always supposed to be a second way across Sisters. The 2018 grant application that started the streetscape project named an east-west connection off Cascade Avenue, which is also Highway 20, as a priority. Now, after a summer of crews and heavy equipment, that street is almost built. The rebuilt corridor runs from Cedar Street to Pine Street and is a different street from the one downtown has known. It also has a sidewalk rule that applies to almost no other downtown block.
The Adams Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project is a full rebuild of the roughly 80-foot-wide corridor between Cedar and Pine. The Nugget described the list of changes in August:
The work also covers sections of the side streets between Main Avenue and Adams. The City of Sisters says it is designed to match the improved streets in the downtown core, with a focus on getting around on foot and by bike, access to homes and businesses, and landscaping.
Mayor Jennifer Letz told The Nugget the goal is for Adams to "match the other streets in downtown." She also said that "since Adams has lacked sidewalks and parking, this has stymied any building or development." The street mixes businesses on its west end with homes to the east. That is why it has long been described as one of downtown's rougher edges.
The design was settled early. At a 2018 open house, residents and business owners saw two concepts, and 20 of the 21 people who voted picked the same one. The city council approved that design in 2019. The City updated it in 2022 and again in 2025.
Funding took longer. The pandemic, other city priorities and the search for money kept Adams on the shelf for most of five years. The Urban Renewal Agency voted to move forward in July 2025. The City put the job out to bid in January 2026, and in March the council awarded the contract to Deschutes Construction Corp. for just under $3.55 million. Most of the money comes through the Sisters Urban Renewal Agency, which is funded by extra property tax revenue as downtown assessed values rise. The same source has paid for improvements on Cascade and Hood avenues and at Fir Street Park.
The city chose not to paint standard bike lanes on Adams. Instead, it widened the sidewalks so people on foot and on bikes share one path. Officials say this cuts the distance people have to cross the street by close to a third and slows traffic.
That design changes the usual rule. Lt. Chad Davis, who heads the Sisters Patrol station for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, put it plainly in The Nugget on September 16: "It is against Sisters city ordinances to ride bicycles or skateboards on city sidewalks." The same story notes that some newer, wider sidewalks are built for dual use, and it names the Adams Avenue streetscape as one of them. So a bike on the sidewalk is out of place one block south on Cascade, where there are no bike lanes, but it belongs on the Adams path.
The Nugget story also separates speed-limited e-bikes from faster electric machines. Oregon caps Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes at 20 mph under motor power and Class 3 e-bikes at 28 mph. Davis was clear about the faster machines:
"Electric dirtbikes are designated as 'Off Highway Vehicles' and cannot be operated on public roadways."
He said dual-sport electric dirt bikes are street legal only when registered with the DMV, insured and properly equipped, and only when the rider has a license, a motorcycle endorsement and a DOT-approved helmet.
Not everyone likes the shared design. At least one letter to The Nugget asked whether mixing bikes and walkers on one path could cause problems, especially for kids, older residents and anyone using a wheelchair or walker. Officials say the design should slow cars, which is the trade-off they chose.
The City's target for substantial completion is September 30, 2026, which is today. The work is not done. The City's notice for the week starting September 28 lists what is still underway:
| Stretch | Work this week |
|---|---|
| Spruce to Cedar, east end of Adams | Drainage swale and shoulder rock |
| Fir to Cedar, Adams and side streets | Landscaping |
| Whole corridor | Limited parking at times, intermittent closures, lane shifts |
The City says access to homes and businesses will be maintained, and it asks drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to expect brief delays during working hours. In August, City Capital Project Manager Paul Bertagna said lighting would go in last. City Manager Jordan Wheeler has said there will be a dedication and ribbon cutting this fall once the work is fully complete. No date had been announced when we checked.
A summer of construction cost some businesses. Ruth Raizin of Three Sisters Floral told The Nugget the disruption "destroyed my nursery business for 2026," and called the summer-long project "devastating to some local businesses." Carys Wilkins and Benji Nagel run The Stand, a seasonal farm stand on Adams. Wilkins said sales dropped and getting in took effort: "You have to drive around a few laps to figure out how to get in." She also said, "We're so appreciative of our customers," and credited the crew with working to keep space open in front of the stand.
These are Adams Avenue addresses that are open again as access returns:
The Stand is seasonal, so check its hours before a fall stop.
The first big downtown weekend with the new Adams in place is the Sisters Harvest Faire. It runs along Main Avenue on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Vendors sell handcrafted goods such as pottery, jewelry, woodwork and textiles, with live music and food vendors as well.
Main Avenue is the block next to the project. The side streets between Main and Adams were rebuilt too, so walking from Adams to the Faire booths means a short trip on new sidewalk. The Sisters Chamber of Commerce organizes the Faire. For the week of September 28, the City warned that parking along the Adams corridor would be limited at times. Check the City's project page for updates before Faire weekend.
The Nugget's August story said the real test comes once the street reopens to people on foot, on bikes and in cars. Harvest Faire weekend will be the first big crowd to use it.
At The Nolte Group, we follow downtown Sisters block by block, including changes like the Adams Avenue rebuild. If you're wondering how the new streetscape fits your own plans near the corridor, schedule a free consultation and we'll go over it with you.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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