Updated November 20, 2019

Environmental Services – your sewer and stormwater utility – continues to design a project to repair about 500 feet of large public sewer pipe under NE Hancock Street and NE Grand Avenue (see map). This section of sewer pipe is showing signs of deterioration due to age. The project will protect public health, property and the environment by reducing the possibility of sewage releases to homes, businesses, and streets.

Schedule

Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2020 and will take about two weeks to complete. 

Construction Methods  

This project will include both trenchless and trench excavation construction methods: 

• Cured-in-Place-Pipe Lining (CIPP) to repair the main sewer pipe
• Sawcutting and jackhammering to install cleanouts in some locations 
• Digging trenches to replace some sewer service lateral connections to buildings 

Go to www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/constructionmethods to learn more.

Proposed Night Work 

Most work will be completed during regular work hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays as needed. However, crews will need to work two night shifts in order to complete main sewer pipe repairs using CIPP.

During CIPP, crews insert a flexible liner inside the old pipe. The liner is inflated to press the outer portion firmly against th­­­e inside wall of the old pipe. The liner is exposed to heat or ultraviolet light (UV) to “cure” the pipe.  During curing, the liner gradually hardens against the inside of the old pipe forming a rigid, smooth surface that seals cracks and restores the old pipe to near-new condition.

Due to the large diameter of the pipe being repaired near you, it will take about 16 hours or more to complete the CIPP process, allow the liner to fully cure, and to clean up. This will require working from morning into the evening and possibly overnight.  Equipment that will generate noise in the evening and at night includes sewer cleaning trucks, refrigeration trucks that store the liner, compressors, light trucks, generators, pumps, and ventilation fans. Work after dark will require lighting of the work zone. 

Submit Comments to Portland Noise Office 

Portland noise code allows construction from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Work after 6 p.m. and before 7 a.m. and all hours on Sundays require a noise variance from the Portland Noise Office. Because CIPP work will still be in progress after 6:00 p.m., Environmental Services will apply for a noise variance to enable the city’s contractors to work two nights at this location.

Your comments regarding the proposed night work are valuable and you can submit them to the Portland Noise Office by letter, email, or telephone.  Please submit comments by Monday, January 20 to: 

• Portland Noise Office, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 110, Portland, OR 97204 
• Email: noise@portlandoregon.gov 
• Phone: 503-823-7350 

Survey Work

Over the next few months, crews will be in the neighborhood periodically to locate and mark underground utilities by painting stripes on streets and sidewalks or placing colored flags in landscaped areas. Each color indicates what is buried below. Blue for water, yellow for natural gas, green for sewer, etc. Please visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/preconstruction for a list and description of other activities that occur before the sewer work can take place.

For More Information

Please sign up now to receive updates by emailing Matthew.Gough@portlandoregon.gov with “Grand Hancock” in the subject line. We will send periodic updates on project schedule and traffic information. Let us know if you have concerns such as business operations, disability issues or medical or business deliveries.