Monthly Archive for August, 2008

A contractor hired by the Portland Development Commission (PDC) has started work on a project to remove several vacant buildings near the intersection of Burnside Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, at the east end of the Burnside Bridge. The property is owned by PDC, which is having it cleared as part of site preparation work on the four-acre Burnside Bridgehead site.

“This is really more of a recycling and salvage operation than it is just a building demolition,” said PDC Construction and Environmental Services Manager Dave Obern. “We expect that we will be able to recycle or repurpose at least 85 percent of the materials in these two buildings.” In addition to building removal, the contractor will work to improve the grading and drainage on the site.

“Clearing the site is our final step towards removing all of the obstacles to redevelopment, making the site shovel ready,” said PDC Development Manager Kia Selley. “We’ve successfully dealt with all of the environmental issues and other concerns which can delay the start of a construction project. Our next major step toward transforming this prime location will be to select a new development partner who can implement the community’s vision of a landmark mixed-use project.”

PDC staffers are currently working with the Burnside Bridgehead Citizen Advisory Committee, made up of representatives from the Central east side, on interim uses for the Bridgehead site. “The objective is to find a temporary use that will engage the community and serve as a positive influence in this area,” said Selley.

Dan Obrist Excavation, Inc. from Clackamas is the contractor on the $47,050 site preparation project, which is expected to take approximately six weeks to complete.

Here is an update to the big pipe dig happening in the Eastside. You can learn more about the project by visiting their website Any questions should be directed to Diana Hinton, Community Relations, Environmental Services, City of Portland at dianah@bes.ci.portland.or.us.

TUNNEL AND SHAFTS
Rosie, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has left the Steel Bridge Shaft and is headed north to the River Street Shaft. The TBM should reach the River Street Shaft by early October. The TBM has advanced over 9,000 feet from the Opera Mining Shaft and has about 11,000 feet remaining to reach the northern terminus on Swan Island.

Alder Shaft at SE MLK Jr and Alder St – Preparations are underway for the microtunnelling from the Alder Shaft to Outfall 36 (SE Alder at MLK Jr Blvd) and to Outfall 37-1 (SE 3rd Ave at Alder St). Tunnel segments that are noticeable at this location are being used to build the access shaft within the tunnel shaft.

Steel Bridge Shaft at the east end of the Steel Bridge – Excavation of the bottom of the shaft continues. The interior walls are being constructed.

River Street Shaft at N River Street (CLD Grain property) – The initial shaft buildout is complete and awaiting the arrival of the TBM in early October. .

Taggart Shaft on MLK Jr Blvd. at south end of MLK viaduct – Excavation of the shaft continues.

PIPELINES
2nd Avenue: Milestone reached! All pipeline installation work has been completed on SE 2nd Avenue between SE Morrison and Clay Streets. There are just a few finishing items that remain to be completed. Thanks to all the businesses on 2nd Avenue for your patience and assistance in reaching this milestone.

SE 3rd Avenue: Work to install a pipeline between SE Washington and Stark Streets is scheduled to begin the week of August 4 and continue for three months. SE 3rd Avenue will be closed in this area with provisions made for local traffic. SE Stark will be closed during the construction period for approximately two to four weeks while pipe is being installed at the intersection of 3rd and Stark. This project will be conducted in two phases: first half of the block from SE Washington to the north, followed by the northern half of the block from SE Stark Street to the south. The closure of SE Stark Street will occur during the second phase of the work.

Outfall 28 (SE Insley Street and 18th Avenue) Excavation of the outfall shaft is proceeding at this site. This phase of work consists of construction of an L-shaped pit where a diversion pipe and two manholes will be installed. The diversion pipe will eventually divert the flow from the existing outfall pipe to the new tunnel system. The microtunnel boring machine is expected to arrive at this location from the McLoughlin Shaft (SE 17th and McLoughlin) early next year.

Outfall 36 (on Alder Street between SE 3rd Ave and SE MLK Jr Blvd) Excavation work within the outfall shaft will continue throughout the summer. The microtunnel boring machine is scheduled to complete the pipeline installation from the Alder Shaft in October of this year.

Outfall 37-1 (SE 3rd Avenue at Alder St) Preparation work to begin the microtunnelling at the Alder Shaft construction site to this location is underway. The microtunnelling begins in mid-August. Construction of the microtunnel pipe takes approximately one month.

Outfall 41 (Peanut Traffic Island across from Steel Bridge Shaft) Work on the diversion pipeline is tentatively scheduled for this fall.

Outfall 44A (N. River Road and Loring Street) Schedule Change: Utility relocation construction will begin in mid-September.