Project Map
What's Happening Now?
The SW Tanner Trunk Sewer Project is in the design phase. Throughout the design process, crews will be in the area to perform investigative activities. Activities include marking the location of sewer pipes and underground utilities with temporary paint, surveying the land, and collecting soil samples.
During surveying and utility marking, crews will paint markings on the street in different colors. They may also place small flags in the ground, or wooden stakes with ribbons. Find a list of the colors and meanings.
When a public utility is near a sewer pipe, stormwater pipe, or other critical structure, it may be necessary to dig a small hole to locate the utility precisely. This activity is called “potholing.” Work crews will drill eight-inch-wide holes in the public right-of-way at locations within the project area where project designers need better information about the location of underground utilities.
There may be brief periods of noise, dust, and mild vibration during drilling. When potholing is complete, crews will fill in the holes and apply an asphalt patch.
While local access to private driveways will be always maintained, access may be delayed. On-street parking will be temporarily removed within the work area.
What to Expect During Soil Sampling
The soil sampling holes will be a few inches in diameter and will be filled immediately after the sampling is completed. This work may require temporary lane restrictions and on-street parking closures. There may be brief periods of noise, dust, and mild vibration during drilling. Work will last approximately two to four hours. Soil sampling is currently scheduled for Monday, November 3. SW Market Street will be closed during the soil sampling.
SW Market Street Sewer Extension
Environmental Services is extending the public sewer in SW Market Street as part of the Tanner Trunk project. This work is part of the City’s ongoing effort to provide property owners a way to directly and independently connect to the public sewer system in order to meet current City Code requirements.
Nonconforming Sewers
The Nonconforming Sewer Office will be contacting some individual property owners who may need to connect to the new sewer main on SW Market St. For more information on nonconforming sewer connections.
What is a Trunk Sewer
A trunk sewer line is a large pipe, usually between 30 to 72 inches in diameter. Trunk sewer lines are a collector for smaller sewer lines that you find in most residential streets in Portland. These neighborhood lines are anywhere from 8 to 15 inches in diameter. Waste flows from the smaller neighbor sewer mainlines to a larger trunk sewer which transfers that waste to the treatment plant.
Trivia Question: What is the largest sewer in Portland (bonus points for diameter)?
Answer: The Big Pipe with a diameter of 22 feet!
For More Information
Environmental Services will inform residents and businesses about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. We encourage you to:
- Visit this project webpage for updates.
- With questions or comments, please contact Joe Tursi by email or phone 503-823-6313.
- If you have a question or concern, please be sure to include your name, property address, and project name (Tanner Trunk Sewer Project) in your voicemail and email so we can provide you more details about what to expect in front of your property.
- 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, all hours and all days.
Sign Up for Updates
Sign up for periodic email or text message updates for the 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.