November 1, 2024

SE 37th Avenue and Holgate Sewer Project 

Contact: K. Bullock-Clayton, Community Outreach
K.BullockClayton@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-5759

The SE 37th Avenue and Holgate Sewer Project is a part of the City of Portland's Urgent System Capacity (USC) Program. The project will upsize and extend a combined sewer mainline and divert eastbound sewer flows from pre-existing maintenance holes onsite. The combined sewer system that serves the area now is under-capacity and in need of significant upgrades. Since 2015, many properties using the system have repeatedly reported basement sewer backups due to extreme storm events.

Project Area

Project repairs and replacements will take place on SE 37th Avenue between SE Holgate Boulevard and SE Long Street.

The simplified map above displays where sewer and stormwater improvements will be made for the SE 37th Avenue & Holgate Sewer Project. Please note, this map is not up to scale.

What's Happening Now?

Construction is temporarily paused and will resume the week of November 4. Nighttime work is planned. 

Crews will continue to install new 18-inch sewer mainline and connect to new maintenance hole. Repair work will be done on days without rain, and sewage will be diverted. Work after dark will require additional staging of equipment in the work zone. Equipment onsite will include trucks, front-end loaders, generators, boilers, air compressors, pumps, hose reels, and industrial lights. SE 37^th Avenue between SE Holgate and Long Street will be closed to thru traffic.

Crews will work with residents and service deliverers to secure local access only. The traveling public should expect minor traffic delays. All work is weather dependent, and subject to change due to contractor availability.

Week of November 4:

Nighttime work hours are Monday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the following location:

• SE 37th Ave between SE Holgate Blvd & Long St — Crews continue mainline sewer replacement through open trench excavation. Maintenance hole on Holgate to be upsized. Upon completion, crews to install storm crossings. 

Week of November 11: 

Daytime work hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following location:

• SE 37th Ave between SE Holgate Blvd & Long St — Crews to finish mainline sewer replacement and inspect pipes through CCTV surveillance. Once pipe conditions are approved, crew to clear work zone of debris and contaminated soil. Sidewalk concrete pouring begins. 

Monday, November 11 (Veterans' Day): While construction work continues on this day, please note that some City of Portland offices and facilities will be closed due to the observance of the federal holiday. 

Please obey all traffic control signs and follow the directions of all flaggers.

Environmental Services has designed a project to replace more than 400-feet of sewer piping in the Reed neighborhood. The project will protect public health and the environment by increasing sewer capacity and helping to prevent sewage releases to buildings and local streets.

General Schedule

Construction began the week of September 23. Repair work will be completed before January 2025.

Construction Work Hours

To reduce public impacts and complete the work as quickly as possible, the City’s Noise Office has granted Environmental Services a noise variance. A noise variance allows a combination of daytime, nighttime, and weekend work hours:

• Daytime Work — Will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays as needed. Hours may vary to limit traffic impacts. 
• Nighttime Work — Will occur between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays as needed. Hours may vary to limit traffic impacts and noise. 

Noisier construction work to dig small trenches and access a maintenance hole will be done during the day. CIPP Lining may be done at night where levels of sewage and stormwater flows in the pipes are lower and less likely to negatively impact the lining.

What to Expect During Construction

You can expect the following activities to occur during construction hours:

• Noise, vibration, and dust
• Traffic delays
• Parking restrictions
• Equipment storage overnight
• Continued sewer service during work hours
• Maintained access to your home or business

A brief guide on what you can expect during construction projects conducted by Environmental Services and their contractors can be found at portland.gov/bes/constructionimpacts.

Construction Methods

The City's contractor will require a combination of trenchless and traditional open trench construction to conduct sewer system repairs. Most of the methods will be trenchless, although some of those methods will require digging access pits to install pipes. Trenchless methods avoid having to dig deep and long trenches in streets to replace whole pipes.

Please visit the sewer construction methods webpage to learn more about sewer and stormwater repairs and replacements. 

 We Want to Hear from You

Environmental Services will inform residents and businesses about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. We encourage you to:

• Project Webpage: Visit portland.gov/bes/SE37Holgate for project details. 
• Questions: To submit questions or comments, please contact City staff by phone or email.
• Project Updates: Sign up for weekly email or text message updates for the project through our free GovDelivery subscription service. 
• Nighttime Construction Noise Complaint: Please call the Noise Program hotline at 503-823-1338, stating that SE 37th Avenue and Holgate Sewer Project is your area of concern. The noise hotline is monitored by site inspectors.
• Sewer Emergency: In the event of a sewer backup or basement flooding, call the City's Maintenance hotline immediately at 503-823-1700. It is staffed all hours and all days, 24/7.

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

Know someone who would be interested in updates about this project?

Stay Connected

The City of Portland is committed to providing meaningful access. To request translation,
interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services,
contact 503-823-7740, Relay: 711.

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