Sewer Work

This summer, Environmental Services will replace failing sewer pipes near SW Capitol Highway and SW Terwilliger Boulevard. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2013 and will take about five months (see map below).

Construction Method

Environmental Services will use jack and bore construction to replace the pipe underneath SW Capitol Highway. The city's contractor will excavate a launch shaft in the vegetated pedestrian island on the north side of the highway and a receiving shaft on the south side. The contractor will bore underneath the highway horizontally from the launch shaft to the receiving shaft and push sewer pipe into place behind the boring machine without disturbing the surface.

The contractor will also replace a sewer pipe next to SW Vincent Place. This will require installing a temporary pipe in Terwilliger Boulevard and the pedestrian trail in George Himes Park to pump sewage around the construction area. Once the temporary pipe is installed, a pump and generator will operate around the clock until the sewer repair is complete. Bypass pumping could take from 60 to 75 days.

SW Capitol,Terwilliger and George Himes Park will remain open during construction. Environmental Services has obtained permits from the Bureau of Development Services and Portland Parks & Recreation to work in the park and in an environmental zone.

When construction is complete, Environmental Services will replant the pedestrian island with native vegetation.

Noise Variance and Night Work

The Portland Noise Office has granted Environmental Services a noise variance to allow bypass pumps to run at night to move sewage around the worksite. This will also allow work at night if necessary for pipe jacking.

In addition to Environmental Services sewer repairs, this project will include work by the Portland Water Bureau and the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

Water Bureau and Transportation Work

Environmental Services is coordinating this project with the Portland Water Bureau and the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Following sewer construction, the Water Bureau will install a 24-inch water pipe to connect with the Burlingame water supply pipe and build service vaults in the pedestrian island between SW Terwilliger and SW Capitol. Water Bureau work is tentatively scheduled for 2014. For more information about this work contact the Portland Water Bureau at 503-823-7404.

In the project's final phase, the Portland Bureau of Transportation will reconstruct the sidewalk, curbs and the path through the pedestrian island. Transportation work will follow the sewer and water construction. For more information contact the Portland Bureau of Transportation at 503-823-5185.

For More Information

Contact David Allred at 503-823-7287.