Monroe Street Water System Improvements

This project will replace old cast iron pipe with joints made of lead with new pipe made of ductile iron and rubber gasket joints. The line is being replaced not due to the lead, which never is in contact with the flow of water, but because the old line is susceptible to cracking and leaking. The new pipe material is made of a longer-lasting material. Also, the City wants to replace the water system infrastructure before the upcoming complete reconstruction of Monroe Street. Additionally, this project will replace old service lines that may be leaking with new service pipe to each property, replace fire hydrants, and install several new valves that will improve City crew’s ability to localize shut off areas. This waterline work represents one facet of construction that will dramatically improve Monroe Street from Main Street to Highway 224. Improved roadway and sidewalk on Monroe Street at the Rail crossing has already been completed as part of the Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail project. The waterline project is expected to be completed in August 2014. During the waterline project nearby water customers will experience some intermittent interruptions in their water service. City staff will distribute door hangers to affected customers two days prior to the expected interruptions. Service will be interrupted when the contractor needs to connect the new main to the old main, which generally occurs at street intersections, and when new service lines are extended from the new main to the customer’s property line. Service transfers to new customer lines will result in service interruptions of two to three hours, and service will be shut off for six to eight hours during the intersection work. Work will take place in one area at a time and will be confined to less than one block when possible. Detours will be in place, with local access maintained at all times. All traffic lanes will be restored when work is concluded at the end of the day.