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Label:
Sewer and stormwater
Label:
Active
Environmental Services is constructing a project to upsize 739 feet of sewer pipe, replace six public sewer connections to private property, and add four new maintenance holes in the Eliot neighborhood. These improvements will reduce the possibility of sewage releases.
Construction started in January 2025 and will take up to five months to complete.
Project Area
This project will take place on NE Russell Street between NE Martin Luther King Blvd and NE 7th Avenue.
Project Schedule
Construction began during the week of 27, 2025 and is nearing completion. Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays if needed.
What’s Happening Now
Contractors will be paving on NE Russell and NE MLK during the week of April 21 and April 28. No parking signs have been put in place so that crews are able to complete paving.
Please make sure to follow all no parking signs. Your car may be subject to tow if you are parked in a no-parking area.
Week of April 21
The following work is expected to occur:
- Paving work on NE MLK Jr. Blvd and NE Russell Street
Week of April 28
- Paving work on NE MLK Jr. Blvd and NE Russell Street
Week of May 5
The following work is expected to occur:
- Manhole rehabilitation
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. Please obey all traffic control signs and follow the directions of flaggers if present.
- 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.
Pavement Restoration
In sewer and stormwater construction projects where crews dig into city streets, Environmental Services is required to follow specifications set by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), who owns the streets and manages the public rights-of-way. PBOT determines what pavement restoration a project must do and provides direction that meets the intent of the City’s Pavement Restoration Standard Drawings for Local Streets or Busy Streets.
We Want to Hear from You
We will inform residents and businesses about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. We encourage you to:
- Sign up to receive email or text message updates portland.gov/bes/signup. You can also sign up to receive information on other projects and topics.
- Contact Aaron Abrams with questions or comments by phone at 503-823-2827 or email Aaron.Abrams@portlandoregon.gov. Please be sure to include your name, property address, and project name (MLK and Russell) in your voicemail and email so we can provide you more details about what to expect in front of your property.
- 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