Environmental Services is about to go into construction on five sections of pipe in the Hillsdale North Sewer Project area that are in need of urgent repair. These pipes were identified due to their current conditions. Taking these actions now will help protect public health and the environment.
Project Area
Schedule
On Monday, May 19 crews will begin construction on the pipe section off of Cheltenham Rd. (see map above). This work should last M-F. Other locations have yet to be scheduled at this time. Stay tuned for more updates.
Environmental Services paused the Hillsdale North Project Sewer Project in November 2024. Five sections of pipes were removed from the Hillsdale North project and added to a Citywide Urgent Pipe Repair project. These repairs will begin in late May. We anticipate the larger Hillsdale North project starting up again in 2032.
What's Happening Now
You may see crews in the neighborhood locating utilities, surveying, inspecting sewer pipes and manholes with closed circuit TV, and drilling to take soil and pavement samples, and trimming trees or removing vegetation. For more information about pre-construction activities, visit the Pre-Construction webpage for more information.
Private Belongings in the Right of Way
During construction, crews will need to work in the public right-of-way. Please keep this in mind if you’re planning or have any private improvements in the public right-of-way. If items are left, they may be discarded during construction. If there is an item that is too large to remove by yourself, reach out to Joe.Tursi@portlandoregon.gov and let him know.
Public and Private Property Access
Most information-gathering activities will occur in the public right-of-way. The public right-of-way includes the street, sidewalks, planting strips, and sometimes undeveloped areas like yards or gravel spaces. In the Hillsdale neighborhood, the public right-of-way often extends well into what appears to be private property, including what can appear to be private front lawns. Crews will be accessing these areas to inspect, maintain, and repair public sewer pipes and manholes.
Public Sewer Easements
In addition, where the city has public sewer easements, crews may need to access private property for survey, other information-gathering activities, and eventual possible sewer repairs. City outreach staff will coordinate with affected property owners for access to public sewer pipes and manholes.
Construction Methods
Crews will use a combination of trenching and trenchless construction methods. Open Trench will require digging trenches. Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) will replace pipes through manholes or access pits to reduce disruption to the neighborhood.
- Open Trench: The contractor excavates a trench, installs a new pipe, fills in the trench, and restores the disturbed pavement.
- Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) Lining: Through a manhole, the contractor inserts a flexible liner into the old pipe. The liner hardens, creating a new interior lining.
To learn more about these construction methods, go to visit the Construction Methods webpage or click the individual links above.
Project Background
The Hillsdale North Project is part of a series of large-scale sewer projects that have, or will be occurring, in the Hillsdale neighborhood. The Hillsdale South Sewer Project finished construction in January 2021, and the Hillsdale Middle and Hillsdale NW projects are currently in the design phase.
Due to funding challenges, we are now prioritizing work that is critical for life safety, property protection, and economic vitality. This includes expanding the wastewater treatment plant on N Columbia Boulevard and a focusing our resources on infrastructure that serves large numbers of people, such as pump stations, force mains, and large diameter pipes.
Staff will continue to repair urgent sewer and stormwater issues as they arise. If your basement sewer backs up or your property or street floods, please report it immediately to the City’s Maintenance Operations hotline at 503-823-1700. It is staffed 24/7, at all hours and all days.
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