Buckman-Kerns Green Street and Sewer Project

Sewer and Stormwater

Active

Environmental Services is finishing constructing a project that installed and upsized public sewer pipes and constructed green street planters in the Buckman and Kerns neighborhoods. These improvements increase sewer capacity, relieve sewer backups, and help reduce street flooding.

Construction is finishing up and should be completed by the end of October 2025.

Project Area

The map below illustrates the entire project area where sewer improvements and green street planters are being constructed. It also shows the proposed methods of construction and where the new ADA ramps are being built.

Buckman-Kerns Green Street and Sewer Project simplified map

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Schedule

Construction is underway and is anticipated to be finished by early 2026. Work will occur in stages, and not all at once.

Environmental Services will provide regular email and webpage updates on the project so that you are informed when work will begin near your location. The contractor will also provide advance notice to adjacent properties before construction begins at each work zone.

What’s Happening Now

All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Remainder of this week:

Construction will resume during work hours between 7:00am and 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. Work may be done on some Saturdays, as well at the following locations:

Install stormdrains at the following locations:
- SE Ash St between SE 24th and 26th avenues.
- SE Morrison St east and west of SE 19th Ave.
- SE 20th Ave north of SE Belmont St.
Minor paving areas Monday through Thursday (speed bumps, property connection patches, etc.) (WEATHER DEPENDENT)
- SE Salmon St between SE 20th and 21st avenues.
- SE Main St west of SE 28th Ave.
- SE Salmon St west of SE 28th Ave.
- SE 16th Ave north of SE Madison St.
- SE Madison St between SE 23rd and 24th avenues.
- SE Salmon St between SE 18th and 19th avenues.
- SE Madison St between SE 26th and 27th avenues.
- SE 17th Ave north of SE Taylor St.
Vegetation will be planted in the remaining green street planters on October 9 and 14. Any remaining planters will be planted in early to mid-November. Tree planting comes at a later date, to be scheduled.
Miscellaneous cleanup throughout the job area.

ADA Ramps Removed from Project Contract

Due to unforeseen design challenges and contract schedules, approximately forty-two (42) ADA ramps will be removed from this project. Environmental Services will work with PBOT Maintenance to build the ADA ramps in the future. The following is a list of ramps that are removed from this contract. There is not a schedule for these yet:

SE 20th Ave and SE Salmon St (SW corner).
SE 22nd Ave and SE Salmon St (mid-block).
SE 25th Ave and SE Taylor St (SE corner).
SE 27th Ave and SE Taylor St (SW corner).
SE 16th Ave and SE Morrison St (NW and SW corners).
SE 15th Ave and SE Alder St (NE and SE corners).
SE 18th Ave and SE Alder St (NW corner).
SE 16th Ave and SE Washington St (NE corner).
SE 17th Ave and SE Washington St (NE corner).
SE 17th Ave and SE Stark St (SW corner).
SE Pine St and SE 26th Ave (SW and SE corners).
SE Pine St and SE 27th Ave (SW, SE, and NE corners).
SE Pine St and SE 28th Ave (NE and SE corners).
SE Pine St and SE 29th Ave (NE corner).
SE Pine St and SE 31st Ave (SE corner).
SE Ankeny St and SE 22nd Ave (SW, NW, and NE corners).
SE Ankeny St and SE 27th Ave (SW and mid-block on the north side).
SE Ankeny St and SE 28th Ave (NE corner).
SE Ankeny St and SE 30th Ave (NE and SE corners).
SE Ankeny St and SE 30th Pl (NE and SE corners).
NE Couch St and NE 28th Ave (all four corners).
NE Couch St and NE 29th Ave (NE and SE corners).
NE Couch St and NE 30th Pl (NE corner).
NE Couch St and NE 31st Ave (NE and SE corners).
NE Davis St and NE 30th Ave (NW corner).
NE Davis St and NE 32nd Ave (SW corner).

What to Expect During Construction

You can expect the following activities and impacts during construction: 

Noise, Vibration, and Dust: Construction creates noise, vibration, and dust, and disrupts normal neighborhood activity. 
Equipment Storage: Equipment and materials may be stored on streets overnight. 
No Parking: Little or no on‐street parking will be allowed in and near work zones, especially during work hours. On days when crews will be working in front of your house or nearby, please plan ahead. If you park your vehicle on the street, plan to move it off the street by 7 a.m. and return it at 6 p.m. 
Traffic Delays: Expect traffic delays in and near the work area. The contractor will develop detailed traffic control plans for each location.
Pedestrian Access: If temporary crosswalk and sidewalk closures are necessary, signage will indicate the alternate way for pedestrians to proceed. 
Services Maintained: Sewer, water, and other utilities are expected to remain in service during construction. 
Garbage Pickup: Access to garbage and recycling bins for haulers will always be maintained. 
Schedule Changes and Inactivity: Construction schedules can change due to a variety of factors, including conditions underground, weather, traffic impacts, subcontractor schedules, and availability of materials. These same variables may cause periods of inactivity during construction phases.

Construction Methods

The contractor will use open trench excavation and cured-in-place-pipe lining (CIPP) to construct sewer and stormwater improvements. Most of the mainline public sewer pipes will be replaced with the open trench excavation method.

Private Improvements in the Right-of-Way

Crews may need to access and work in the right-of-way--specifically, the planting strip between the curb and the sidewalk--in order to repair, replace, or construct green street planters and sanitary and/or storm sewer pipes. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the portion of the public right-of-way between their property and the curb. This includes caring for permitted trees, mowing grass, and maintaining a safe sidewalk. However, the City retains the authority to use that area on behalf of the public.

We Want to Hear from You

Please let us know if you have a concern or question about future construction near you. Be sure to include your name, property address, and project name (Buckman-Kerns) in your voicemail and email so we can provide you more details about what to expect in front of your property. Also, please write “Buckman-Kerns” in the subject line of your email.  

Sewer Emergency: In the event of a sewer backup or basement flooding, call the Maintenance hotline immediately at 503-823-1700. It is staffed all hours and all days, 24/7.

Sign Up for Updates

Sign up for weekly email or text message updates for the Buckman-Kerns Green Street and Sewer Project through our free GovDelivery subscription service. These updates are the best way to stay informed about what’s happening and what to expect. You can also sign up for bulletins on other projects and topics.

Other Work in the Area

Public utility companies, private contractors, and the City's Maintenance Department may be conducting other work nearby, where they, too, need to post NO PARKING signs for their work. 

Please Take the Business Survey

If you have a business within the project area, please complete this questionnaire so we can learn more about your business and what needs you may have during construction.

Business Survey

This project will help protect the health of the Willamette River Watershed.