SW Capitol Hill and Bertha Sewer Project

Sewer and Stormwater

Active

Environmental Services has completed a project to repair two sections of sewer pipe and a maintenance hole near the intersection of SW Capitol Hill Road and SW Bertha Boulevard. Taking these actions now will help protect public health and the environment.

Construction began in April and reached substantial completion in July 2023.

On this Page

Project Area

Overview map of the SW Capitol Hill and Bertha Sewer Project

What's Happening Now

All work is weather-dependent, and the schedule below is subject to change. Work will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Rest of This Week

Cleaning up the work site.
Completing project close-out tasks.

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. 

Fats, Oils, and Grease – Did You Know?

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can build up overtime and completely block sewer pipes. Blocked sewer pipes can cause raw sewage to back up into homes or businesses, or overflow into streets and streams. Visit the FOG webpage for more information.

Construction Methods

Environmental Services will us a combination of open trench and pipe bursting construction methods to make the repairs.

Open Trench Excavation: The contractor digs a trench, installs a new pipe, fills in the trench, and restores the patched trench with new pavement.
Pipe Bursting: The contractor pushes a bursting head into the sewer line to break apart the existing pipe while pulling a new pipe into place behind it.

Visit the construction methods webpage for more details and photos.

What To Expect During Construction

You can expect the following activities and impacts during construction:

Work will occur in the daytime (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
Crews will set up safe work zones to protect crews and the public from the hazards associated with construction.
Construction will temporarily restrict some travel lanes and sidewalk crossings in work zones, limit or remove parking, and create traffic delays.
Local access will be available for all buildings and parking garages. Please obey all traffic control signs and follow the directions of flaggers.
The City's contractors take care to keep noise, dust, vibration, odor, traffic delays, and other potential construction nuisances to a minimum.

About Stephens Creek

Stephens Creek begins at a steep ridge south of the Hillsdale Neighborhood center and flows about two miles to the Willamette River just north of the Sellwood Bridge. The creek drains a 754-acre watershed of mostly residential and commercial development around Burlingame, part of the Interstate 5 corridor, and the SW Taylors Ferry Road canyon.

The Stephens Creek watershed is one of 27 sub-watersheds in the lower Willamette River. It is one of the few remaining streams in Portland that flows mainly above ground from its headwaters to the Willamette River. The mouth of Stephens Creek provides important off-channel habitat for fish in the Willamette River.