Bend north-end sewer work to affect traffic, business

(Update: Comments from project manager, area business)

The city of Bend’s North Area Sewer Project construction is expected to begin construction next Monday, at one of the busiest corners in town: the intersection of Third Street and Butler Market Road, officials said Tuesday.

“There will be traffic impacts associated with this project,” Project Manager Sinclair Burr said. “Along Third Street, Butler Market and O.B. Riley, we will have lane closures that will last all day and all night. The crossing of Third Street will be limited to night work only, to try to limit impacts there.”

Construction and traffic impacts will continue until the end of the year, officials said.

It’s not just traffic: Businesses in the area can also expect to be affected. Vince Parker owns Fat Tuesdays on O.B. Riley Road. He said he just found out about the Monday, from a job applicant.

“Are we going to have enough traffic in here?” Parker said. “s it going to impede the business to the point where people won’t want to deal with the headache to come here to patronize the business?”

The city council last month approved a $3.8 million contract with Jack Robinson and Sons to build the sewer system improvements on the north end of Bend.

Officials said the city’s sewer collection system (the pipe and conveyance system) is near capacity. In some areas, existing sewer pipes routinely approach overflow levels.

The project will provide needed relief in the north area and improve access to “employment land,” the city said.

“In parts of the city, it is difficult for Bend to add any major new employer or residential development due to sewer collection system capacity,” the announcement said.

Parker said despite his concerns, he is still in favor of the construction.

“I still think it’s a good thing overall,” he said. “It’s something we will need, especially here. So, I think it’s a good thing. We’ll just have to deal with it and make the best of it.”

The project includes:

Force main construction from a lift station in Sawyer Park on O.B. Riley Road, south to Third Street and east on Butler Market Road connecting to an existing gravity main line near Fourth Street. Gravity system upgrades between Nels Anderson Road and North Highway 97.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Visit the project website for project updates at http://www.bendoregon.gov/northsewer