Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews are currently digging a trench down the center of E Burnside Street between 75th and 76th Avenues. This work will address an urgent sewer maintenance situation. Traffic cones and signs are diverting drivers and bicyclists into the parking lane to get around the heavy equipment in the center of the roadway. Drivers should use caution over the next week as work progresses.

This unplanned utility work came about due to a reported issue at a residence. “Our crews were responding to a sewer malfunction in the 7500 block of East Burnside when they decided to proactively check other lines in the area,” explained Dylan Rivera, a Public Information Officer with PBOT. Initially, responding PBOT staff determined the sewer lines needed routine repairs. However, “upon further inspection, we found that repairs need to be done right away to prevent the potential for sewer backups or other disruptions.”

PBOT staff quickly planned the repair, placing No Parking signs along both sides of E Burnside street between 75th and 78th Avenues late last week. These temporary notices prohibited curbside parking during the weekday, allowing road crews the added space to redirect vehicles around the worksite. Rivera noted that, as with any road work, drivers need to adjust their speed and pay attention while driving near the worksite. “For the safety of our crews and other travelers in the area, we ask the public to slow down and use caution when they are passing near the work zone.”

Road work in this area will continue through the week with continued closures of parking lanes and bike lanes on E Burnside street. However, PBOT expects both travel lanes to remain open during the project. After crews complete the sewer repairs, PBOT will patch the road’s concrete base. Drivers should expect to see sections of the road covered by steel plates as the concrete is curing. It is recommended that all vehicles slow down and use caution when driving over plates.

PBOT will need to return to this area to repave the street and restore the road surface. Planners will schedule crews for that phase of the project at a later date.

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