Bend’s Newport Avenue to see overdue water, sewer and road upgrades
(Update: Adding video, comments from city, Newport Avenue Market)
Open house, online survey planned; businesses gird for impacts
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend's Newport Avenue may be one of Bend’s busiest streets, but starting next spring, things will look a little different.
According to Drew Wells, manager for the Newport Corridor Improvement Project, about 16,000 cars travel along the Westside thoroughfare every day. But soon, construction on much-needed infrastructure improvements on and beneath the roadway will limit traffic, for a time.
The project will improve curbs, roadways and sidewalks while replacing a failing stormwater drain system that’s nearly 50 years old, along with other aging water and sewer lines.
Images from 2016 show leaks in the culvert on Newport Avenue.
"If you're starting to see failures, you're almost too late,” Wells told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday. “You should be replacing these pipes before you get to that point."
Traffic in the area will be affected once construction is underway, and businesses are already preparing for what's to come.
Lauren Johnson, the CEO of Newport Avenue Market said, "It's going to be a struggle to get to the end of that project."
Johnson has seen this before. A few years ago, improvements on the Newport Avenue Bridge slowed business dramatically.
"From day one of construction to the last day of that construction project, we could actually see (the difference) from day to day," Johnson said.
The culvert that is the main point of the project runs between Ninth Street and College Way.
Wells said if Bend sees major rain or snow this season, the road could see major damage.
"If (the road) were to catastrophically fail, that could mean a sinkhole in the road," he said.
The city will be hosting an open forum next Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Bend’s Westside Church Atrium, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Rd.
Here's the city's news release Tuesday on the project and open house:
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An open house is coming up for Bend's Newport Corridor Improvements Project, will replace the aging and failing stormwater drainage system along Newport Avenue and in the south Awbrey Butte area, along with road improvements.
The city will replace other aging water and sewer lines and improve the roadway to contemporary standards at the same time.
In addition to the drainage system improvements, Newport Corridor upgrades will also:
- Reconstruct the roadway from College Way to 9th Street.
- Replace the existing sewer trunk line.
- Replace water distribution pipes in the rebuilt roadway.
- Install new sidewalks, curb ramps, lighting, landscape irrigation, and signage.
The city is working to find the best and safest option for improvements at the intersections of NW Newport Avenue with 11th Street and 12th Street. The proposed improvements will be shown at an upcoming open house for the public. Project neighbors are invited to attend the open house to ask questions and share feedback:
- Tuesday, October 20, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Presentation at 5:30 p.m.) at Westside Church, Atrium, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Road
Project information: www.bendoregon.gov/newportimprovements.
Between October 20 and October 23, there will be a survey available on that webpage where neighbors can submit questions and suggestions.
This meeting is accessible. Sign language interpretation service, assistive listening devices, materials in alternate format such as Braille, large print, electronic formats or any other accommodations are available upon advance request. Translated materials and live interpretation in Spanish are also available upon request. Please contact us at awells@bendoregon.gov or 541-588-0581. Providing at least three days’ notice prior to the event will help ensure availability.
