Sewer line projects continue around Bend

On Wednesday night, the Bend City Council will be asked to approve a contract for construction of the Southeast Interceptor Phase 1 sewer line extension.

It’s Bend’s next sewer line project, happening in the Northeast Purcell Boulevard and Neff Road area.

It’s set to break ground in August, although construction for some areas will happen later than others, according to project manager Eric Forster.

“We’re making accommodations for the eclipse coming up,” Forster said Monday.

“We don’t want to be blocking lanes during that time. Access to the hospital is paramount. We’re coordinating with the folks over at St. Charles,” he added.

“We’re going to wait until after the (Aug. 21) eclipse to do any work within the streets,” Forster said.

Meanwhile, work continues on the 27th Street phase of the project. The sewer portion is expected to wrap up in October. The roadway paving portion, however, isn’t expected to finish until July of next year.

The reason for the long delay between the sewer and road portions has to do with winter, as well as the contract with Taylor Northwest Construction, Forster said.

“Temperatures need to be above freezing,” he said. “In our contract, we have a completion date of July of 2018. We are hopeful that things will get done quicker, but the contractor does have that ability to do that work later.”

If city councilors go along, City Manager Eric King will have the ability to approve any contract changes up to $300,000 for this upcoming project.