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Label:
Water system improvement construction
Label:
Active
The Water Bureau is installing 3,350 feet of water main (pipe) in Southwest Portland. These aging pipes pass under I-5 and SW Barbur Boulevard. A main break here could cause major problems.
2025–2026
Project overview
The Water Bureau is installing 3,350 feet of water main (pipe) in Southwest Portland. The pipe sections we're replacing range from 60 to 110 years old. Inspections show that these pipes have reached the end of their useful life. Some of these pipes cross under busy roads like SW Barbur Boulevard and I-5.
This project will
- Protect infrastructure by reducing risk of main breaks and damage to roads
- Improve the reliability of water flow to surrounding neighborhoods
- Benefit over 42,000 people served by these water mains
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Construction happening now
Last updated September 16, 2026
We have installed all of the new water pipes along the project route. All underground drilling is complete. Work is still continuing in small areas along these roads.
Pipe connections
There are still some key steps required before we can finish this project. Crews are working to:
- Flush the new pipes with chlorinated water to sanitize them
- Test the pipes to ensure they are sanitized
- Connect the pipes to the water system
Crews will work to complete other utility work before final paving begins. No water shutoffs are expected for this work.
Experiencing a water emergency? Contact our 24-hour emergency line at 503-823-4874 or portland.gov/water/service-problem.
Final road paving
The new water pipe has been installed and connected to service lines. Now we will clean up the project site. Crews will:
- Return roads to their original condition where we dug trenches
- Pour concrete to repair curbs and sidewalks affected by construction
- Restore vegetation that was disturbed during construction
This project will return roadways and pedestrian areas to their pre-construction condition.
How we determine pre-construction condition
We use survey information, project design plans, and video to determine pre-construction condition. Decisions are made prior to construction. First, engineers use mapping tools and survey recordings to mark existing topography in the area.
Project maps include things like:
- Edges of pavement, driveways, and sidewalks
- Conditions of the road and surrounding area
- Existing utilities and flowlines for water runoff
- Trees and hardscaping in the right-of-way
- Elevations and earth contours
Maps give project teams a clear picture of road and area conditions before construction starts. The project map is followed up with a video survey that captures the work area before construction starts.
Together, the project map and video recordings inform our project team as they plan for construction site restoration. This ensures we're meeting our code requirements and allows us to thoroughly compare our finished work to the pre-existing conditions.
How we determine road improvements
This project does not include any additional road improvements like adding speed bumps, sidewalks, or traffic signals, or paving unimproved gravel roads. Road improvements are determined by budget and pre-construction planning.
About Portland's unpaved streets and streets without curbs
What to expect during construction
Work hours
Normal work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sometimes we may need to work on Saturdays to keep the project on schedule. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
During weekdays, crews will work reduced hours on SW Chestnut Street to accommodate school traffic. Reduced work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We may need to work at night to deliver materials to our storage area between I-5 and SW Barbur Boulevard. No construction work (like underground drilling or loud machinery) will happen at night.
Project locations
Crews will install water main (pipe) along the following streets:
- SW Nevada Street between SW Second Avenue and SW Fifth Avenue
- SW Fifth Avenue between SW Nevada Street and SW Chestnut Street
- SW Chestnut Street between SW Fifth Avenue and SW Burlingame Avenue
- South Corbett Avenue near South Laview Drive
- Underneath SW Barbur Boulevard, SW Brier Place, and I-5 using jack and bore drilling
Road closures
Crews will work on small sections of the road during work hours and reopen the road each evening. Each section will take about one to two weeks. Schedules are subject to change based on weather, access to materials, and available staff.
Some parts of the project will take place in narrow and unimproved roads. Work may slow down traffic in your neighborhood. Traffic signs and flaggers will direct travelers around the closure areas during work hours. Crews will cover open trenches each day using steel plates or gravel topped with asphalt patches. Detour routes will change as work progresses.
There may be periods of inactivity and rough roads through different phases of this project. We will return streets to their original condition at the end of the project.
Equipment storage
Sometimes we'll need to leave tools, machines, and supplies on your street in the work zones. We will move materials around as we enter into different phases of the project.
If you have safety or traffic concerns due to material storage, reach out to waterprojects@portlandoregon.gov.
Sewer, water, and other services
You can still use sewer, water, and other services while we work on your street. We will work with garbage, mail, emergency vehicles and delivery services to make sure they have access. There are no planned service disruptions for this project. If we plan to shut off your water, we will notify you at least 24 hours ahead of time.
If your water service is disrupted, contact Water's 24-hour emergency line at 503-823-4874 or visit portland.gov/water/report-problem.
If you have a sewer backup or notice sewage being released into the environment, contact Environmental Services' 24-hour emergency line at 503-823-1700 or portland.gov/bes/report-sewer-problem.
Work in the public right-of-way
What is the public right-of-way?
Most areas that are not private property or owned by other government agencies are part of the public right-of-way. This is where streets, sidewalks, and most public utilities are located. The right-of-way is not always improved with sidewalks or streets, and it might look the same as the adjacent private property.
The City has the authority to use the right-of-way on behalf of the public, including the area between the street and private property. The size of the right-of-way may vary from street to street.
Items in the right-of-way may be disturbed by construction
Anything in the right-of-way might be disturbed by City construction workers or contractors. This includes things like irrigation systems, hard landscaping (stone, concrete, pavers, garden boxes, retaining walls, or other materials), soft landscaping (trees, plants, shrubs, flowers, flower beds, grass, bark, and the like), and other amenities.
If construction disturbs these kinds of items, the City cannot restore or replace them. However, once construction is complete, the City will repair or replace sidewalks and curbs as needed.
Open trench excavation
We'll use open trench excavation along SW Nevada Street, SW Fifth Avenue, and SW Chestnut Street.
Standard main replacements involve the following steps:
- Sawcut the pavement, dig trenches for the new water pipes, and install the new pipe.
- Cover open trenches with steel plates or temporary asphalt while work is in progress.
- Test, sanitize, and connect the new pipe to the water system.
Jack and bore excavation
We'll use a jack and bore method to drill holes for the sections of pipe that go underneath Interstate 5, SW Barbur Boulevard (Oregon Route 99W), and SW Brier Place. This means we won't disrupt traffic by digging trenches across the two highways.
A jack and bore method involves the following steps:
- Dig a sending pit and a receiving pit to the required depth.
- Place a jack and bore machine into the sending pit.
- Use the machine to cut a hole through the ground and push the new water pipe into place.
- Remove the jack and bore machine, cover open pits or secure pits with fencing while work is in progress.
- Test, sanitize, and connect the new pipe to the water system.
Past project activities
Newsletters
July 2026: Pipe connections starting soon; Construction paused in small sections along project route (newsletter)
April 2026: Construction continuing in small sections along project route (newsletter)
February 2026: Underground drilling starting near I-5 (newsletter)
January 2026: Construction starting on SW Chestnut Street (newsletter)
November 2025: Construction starting on SW Nevada Street (newsletter)
October 2025: Construction starting this fall (newsletter)
January 2023: Project update; Design nearly complete (newsletter)
Neighborhood activities
October 21, 2025: Construction is starting this fall (mailed postcard)
October 4, 2025: Road closure notification; South Laview Drive (mailed postcard)
January 4, 2023: Hillsdale Neighborhood Association (meeting presentation)
October 19, 2022: Hillsdale Business Association (meeting presentation)
Portland City Council
November 30, 2022: Portland City Council second reading to authorize bid for construction contract
November 16, 2022: Portland City Council presentation to authorize bid for construction contract
Carolina Trunk Sewer Project
There is an unrelated sewer project happening near SW Slavin Road. Residents in the Fulton Pump main replacement work zone should not be affected.
This work is part of a larger project being conducted by the Bureau of Environmental Services. This project is replacing a section of large concrete sewer pipe in SW Portland. The Carolina Trunk pipe runs near SW Slavin Road under I-5 to South Macadam Avenue. It was built almost 90 years ago and needs to be replaced to prevent sewer and stormwater overflows.