Woods Trunk Sewer Project

Project Area

The project area is between SW Curry Street to the north, SW Lane Street to the South, SW Condor Avenue to the west, and SW Hood Avenue to the east. 

View full size image of Sewer repairs begin just west of SW Condor Avenue and SW Lane Street and continue in a northeast direction across S Water, Corbett, Kelly, Hood, and Macadam Avenue ending at the intersection of S Curry Street and S Moody Avenue.

What's Happening Now

Over the summer, you will see crews access maintenance holes to inspect public sewer pipes. The project team will access them in the street as well as some located within public easements on private property. Crews will use robotic equipment to collect 3D imaging data, providing detailed information about the location and alignment of the sewer pipe. We'll be reaching out to affected property owners and tenants ahead of fieldwork occurring.

Some investigative activities will require restricting parking and closing travel lanes. The traveling public should expect minor traffic delays. 

Construction Schedule

The project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 is expected to begin in summer 2027 and continue through spring 2028. Phase 2 is anticipated to begin in summer 2028 and conclude in fall 2028.

Phase 1: New Access Shafts and Initial Sewer Repairs

During Phase 1, Environmental Services will construct several new access shafts (maintenance holes) using open trench excavation. Some of the new maintenance holes will replace existing structures. Construction footprints and durations will vary by location, but building an individual access shaft may take approximately four to eight weeks.

The new access shafts will provide access to the Woods Trunk Sewer for future repairs and maintenance. Constructing these access points first allows Phase 2 sewer rehabilitation work to be completed using a less disruptive trenchless repair method called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining.

As design continues other construction methods will be considered. The final construction approach and schedule for each access shaft will be determined after a contractor is selected.

During Phase 1, crews will also repair the downstream portion of the Woods Trunk Sewer between S Hood Avenue and S Moody Avenue.

Phase 2: Trenchless Sewer Repairs

Phase 2 will focus on rehabilitating the remaining portion of the Woods Trunk Sewer between the upstream end of the project area near Condor Avenue and S Hood Avenue using CIPP lining. This trenchless repair method allows crews to rehabilitate the existing pipe from the access shafts constructed during Phase 1, reducing the need for extensive excavation along the sewer alignment.

Crews will also construct one additional maintenance hole near Condor Avenue during this phase.

Phase 2 is expected to begin in summer 2028 and be completed in fall 2028.

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.

View full size image of Simplified Graphic of a neighborhood sewer system.

We Want to Hear from You

Environmental Services would like to hear from you about special events, school activities, and community services in your neighborhood you think might be affected by this project. Also, we want to know if you have any concerns related to business operations, disability or mobility issues, or medical or business deliveries. Your input will help us design a successful project that minimizes the impact to your neighborhood during construction.

We 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 regularly for updates.
• With questions or comments, please contact Matt Gough by email or phone 503-823-5352.
• If you have a question or concern, please be sure to include your name, property address, and project name (Woods Trunk) 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.

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Sign up for periodic email or text message updates 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.

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