SW Fairmount Boulevard Landslide Response

PBOT and its contractor plan to begin construction during the week of September 8^th, with completion anticipated in October.

The contractor's initial activities will include mobilizing equipment and materials and installing traffic and erosion control. Next, crews will excavate and haul away debris before constructing the rock buttress, stormwater, and drainage improvements. Crews will then repair and restore the asphalt and shoulder on SW Fairmount Blvd before completing construction.

During construction, hard closures in the slide area will apply to people walking and biking, as well as to people driving. This change is to ensure the safety of contractor crews and the traveling public during construction.

Through the end of August, City staff completed bid plans and worked through contracting with the construction contractor. City arborists removed and pruned two hazard trees in the slide area, in preparation for construction. PBOT is targeting September to begin construction and October to complete construction.

Through the end of July and the beginning of August, City staff completed 95% plans and final plans. Utilities in the vicinity also began relocating their service lines in preparation for construction. The project team is now focused on construction contracting and site preparation. PBOT is targeting September to begin construction.

In the first half of July, City staff completed 30% plans, the first major design milestone for the slope stabilization project. The project team is now progressing towards 95% plans and final plans (August-September) and targeting late summer/early fall to begin construction.

In June, PBOT installed speed reader boards to encourage slower speeds in the Council Crest neighborhood. PBOT and BES staff also continued designing the rock buttress that will stabilize the landslide slope, as well as stormwater improvements on the west side of SW Fairmount Blvd.

Over the past two weeks, PBOT and BES staff began designing the rock buttress that will stabilize the landslide slope, as well as stormwater improvements on the west side of SW Fairmount Blvd.

PBOT staff also collected additional vehicle speed and volume data and identified locations for speed reader boards to encourage slower driving speeds in the neighborhood. These speed reader boards will be installed in early June.

This week, PBOT and BES staff coordinated with affected property owners to identify a preferred alternative for slope stabilization improvements. The project team will begin designing these improvements the week of May 25, 2026.

PBOT staff also shared project updates at the Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL) monthly meeting on May 20, 2026.

• PDF fileFairmount Blvd Landslide - SWHRL Presentation7.31 MB

In the first half of May, PBOT and BES staff continued refining and evaluating alternatives for the future slope stabilization improvements. A preferred alternative will be advanced to design shortly.

In parallel, staff developed initial designs for civil and stormwater drainage modifications on Fairmount Blvd and on the west side of Fairmount Blvd, across the street from the landslide.

Over the past two weeks, PBOT staff finalized right-of-way resolution in the landslide area and continued coordinating with impacted utility providers on temporary utility relocation needs.

PBOT and BES staff developed several alternatives and cost estimates for the future slope stabilization improvements. Staff are currently evaluating and refining these alternatives before identifying a preferred alternative to advance for further design, engineering, and construction.

This week, PBOT staff installed an updated detour route around the slide closure area. The detour directs drivers to use SW Fairmount Blvd to avoid the slide closure area when accessing area destinations.

Staff from the BES Materials Testing Lab continued testing field samples, and PBOT and BES staff continued developing solution alternatives, cost estimates, and a geotechnical report for the project. These deliverables will be produced in the coming weeks and will inform the preferred alternative that's selected for further design, engineering, and construction.

This week, PBOT staff worked to finalize right-of-way resolution in the landslide area and coordinated with impacted utility providers on future utility relocation needs. Staff also connected with adjacent property owners to walk the broader corridor and to discuss the landslide's impacts.

PBOT and BES staff are now focused on developing the geotechnical report, solution alternatives, and cost estimates for the project. These deliverables will be produced in the coming weeks and will inform the preferred alternative that's selected for further design, engineering, and construction.

This week, PBOT surveyors delivered topographic survey of the landslide area and are finalizing right-of-way resolution. Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) also completed soil borings to collect soil data. These efforts will inform the geotechnical report and solution alternatives that will be developed in the coming weeks.

This week PBOT also finalized an updated detour plan that will be posted in the field and direct drivers to use Fairmount Blvd (West) to detour around the slide area closure. Additionally, in response to reports of barricades and signs at the slide closure being moved, PBOT reinforced both sides of the slide area with concrete blocks and secured metal barricades to prevent unwanted adjustments.

View full size image of Reinforced barricade and concrete blocks at the north end of the landslide area, looking south.

PBOT surveyors are completing field survey at the landslide site. Exploratory borings to collect soil data will occur the week of 3/30/26. Signed closures remain in place, and a map of area closures has been added to the project website.

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) surveyors are collecting field survey data at the landslide site. Contractors hired by BES will begin exploratory borings to collect soil data shortly. A signed detour route is in place and will likely be in effect into the summer months. The detour route will be added to the project website shortly.