Updated January 15, 2020

The Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Bureau of Transportation will begin construction on the week of November 11th on a joint project in Southeast Portland to improve the street, stormwater, and sewer system along SE Mill Street.

Sewer crews will replace and upgrade 629 feet of public sewer pipes along SE Mill Street between SE 80th and 82nd avenues. Crews will also construct two manholes, repair a third manhole, and replace several service laterals that connect private properties to the public sewer.

Transportation crews will complete a full reconstruction of SE Mill Street, including building new sidewalks to Bridger Elementary School and a new stormwater system to eliminate street flooding.

Location

Sewer construction will occur in SE Mill Street between SE 80th and SE 82nd avenues.

Schedule

Starting January 15, the City’s contractor, Moore Excavation Company, is scheduled to begin sewer construction on SE Mill. This work may take three months to complete. Improvements to the street, sidewalk, and stormwater system will take another several weeks. The entire project is expected to be completed in March 2020. The schedule may change due to a variety of factors, including weather, conditions underground, availability of materials and labor, and other unforeseen events.

 For Transportation's schedule, contact Mimi Phillips at 503-823-3462 or email Mimi.

Open Trench Excavation

Open trench excavation to replace mainline sewer pipe, service laterals, and manholes are schedule to occur on the following dates:

• Mainline pipe excavation– Jan 15-31
• Manhole installations – Jan. 17 & Jan. 30 - 31

Work Hours Include Night Work in 82nd Ave

General construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday as needed. To minimize traffic impacts, the Portland Noise Office granted Environmental Services a noise variance to work at night in the intersection of SE 82nd Avenue. Night work will be from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and may last up to two weeks.

Construction Method

The construction contractor will use open trench excavation to replace mainline sewer pipes, service laterals, and manholes. This  method involves excavating down to and exposing the existing pipe so that it can be replaced. For more details and photos about this method, click here.

After replacing the sewer pipes, crews will backfill the trenches and apply temporary asphalt patches. Then the Bureau of Transportation will construct their street improvements.

What to Expect During Construction

You can expect the following impacts during construction:

• Traffic Delays: Expect traffic delays in and near the work area.
• Driveway Access: Construction may temporarily block your driveway when crews are working in front of your property.
• No Parking: Little or no on-street parking will be allowed in and near work zones, especially during work hours.
• Equipment Storage: Equipment and materials may be stored on streets overnight.
• Services Maintained: Sewer, water, and other utilities are expected to remain in service during construction.
• Assistance: A city inspector will be on-site during work hours and may be able to assist you with an immediate need during construction.
• Emergency: In case of a sewer backup or basement flooding emergency, contact City Maintenance at 503-823-1700, press 1, and give them the project number E11142. The hotline is staffed all hours and all days.

For More Information

Environmental Services strives to keep residents and businesses informed about construction projects. If you would like more information about the sewer replacement project or have questions and concerns you’d like to discuss, please call or email:

Stefanus Gunawan
Community Outreach
Phone: 503-823-5759
Email: Stefanus.Gunawan@portlandoregon.gov

If you have a concern or question about a pipe repair near you, please be sure to include your name, property address and project name (SE Mill Street) in your voicemail and email so we can provide you more details about what to expect in front of your property. Also, please write "SE Mill" in the subject line of your email. Click SIGN UP to sign up for periodic email updates about the schedule, construction activities, possible traffic detours and delays, parking restrictions, and other impacts.

If you have a concern or question about the Portland Bureau of Transportation's Local Improvement District (LID) Project, contact Mimi Phillips at 503-823-3462 or email Mimi.