Washington Street Area Improvements

Click here to see a What to Expect During Construction info sheet.

Nov. 18 – Nov. 27 (no work on Thanksgiving or the day after)

• 35th Avenue/Washington Street between Sellwood Street and 33rd Avenue – Crews will continue to build new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible ramps, concrete sidewalk, and driveway entries along 35th Avenue.
• Washington Street from 28th Avenue to just past Oak Street – Crews will continue to install waterline blow offs and meters along Washington Street. Flush and pressure testing on the newly installed waterline will begin next week.

Week of Nov. 11

• 35th Avenue between Sellwood Street and 34th Avenue – Crews will continue to build new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible ramps, concrete sidewalk, and driveway entries along 35th Avenue.
• Washington Street from 28th Avenue to just past Oak Street – Crews will continue water line work, moving eastward along Washington Street. This work will take several weeks to complete.

Week of Oct. 28

• 35th Avenue between Sellwood Street and 34th Avenue (on the west side of the street) – Crews will build new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible concrete sidewalk and driveway entries. They will start at the intersection at Sellwood Street and move north to 34th Avenue.

They will first do the demolition work, put the forms in place, and then pour the concrete. Impacted residents have received a door notice explaining the impacts to them and their driveways.

Note that 35th Avenue will be closed from 34th Avenue to Sellwood Street.

Week of Oct. 21

Please note that schedules are subject to change.

• 35th Avenue between Sellwood Street and 34th Avenue (on the east side of the street) – Crews will build new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible concrete sidewalk and driveway entries. They will start at the intersection at Sellwood Street and move north to 34th Avenue.

They will first do the demolition work, put the forms in place, and then pour the concrete. Impacted residents have received a door notice explaining the impacts to them and their driveways.

Note that 35th Avenue will be closed from 34th Avenue to Sellwood Street.

Week of Oct. 14

Crews plan do the work below. Please note that schedules are subject to change.

• Washington Street at 28th Avenue – Move water service meters along Washington Street to the newer water service line and replace the fire hydrant at the intersection of 35th Avenue and Edison Street.
• Edison Street – Install a new swale (also known as a stormwater water quality planter), construct concrete sidewalk, and driveway approaches.
• 35th Avenue – Construct concrete sidewalk and driveway approaches along 35^th Avenue starting from the intersection with Sellwood Street and extending North to Washington Street.

Week of Oct. 7

Crews will:

• Move water service meters along Washington Street to the newer water service line, and replace the fire hydrant at the intersection of Washington Street and 28^th Avenue
• Install a new swale (also known as a water quality planter for stormwater) on Edison Street, and construct concrete sidewalk and driveway approaches.

Week of Sep. 30

Crews will:

Week of Sep. 23

Crews will:

Week of Sep. 16

Crews will;

Crews will:

Week of Sep. 2 (no work on Monday for the Labor Day holiday)

Crews will:

Paving Schedule for August 27-28

Please note: construction schedules are subject to change.

• On Tuesday, August 27, paving crews plan to begin on 23rd Avenue and pave down Washington Street and then head south and pave along the east side (the school side) of 27th Avenue to Lake Road. The west side of the street will remain drivable for residents on that side of the street. They may go southbound towards Lake Road. Garbage will be picked up early in the morning before the work begins at 7 a.m. Please get your car out of your driveway by 7 a.m. if you need it that day. After the asphalt cools, you can use the road again. This will probably be 7 or 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

• On Wednesday, August 28, paving crews plan to pave the west side of 27th Avenue to Willard Street. The east side the street will remain drivable for residents on that side of the street. Please get your car out of your driveway by 7 a.m. if you need it that day. After the asphalt cools, you can use the road again. 

Week of Aug. 26

• Permanently paving 27^th Avenue with new asphalt between Washington Street and Lake Road. This will happen from Wednesday through Friday. Local residents will need to stay off of the hot asphalt each day until it fully cools and the street is closed to through traffic all week. See the door hanger you received this week for detailed instructions.
• Permanently paving Washington Street between 23^rd and 27^th Avenues on Monday and Tuesday. Watch for detours!
• Pouring final concrete sidewalks and driveways on 27^th Avenue between Washington Street and Lake Road.
• Pouring concrete curbs, sidewalks and driveways on Washington Street between 27^th and 28^th Avenues.
• Repairing the sewer mainline on Washington Street at 35^th Avenue using a method called pipe-bursting.

Week of Aug. 19

• Culvert work on Washington Street at the intersection of 27th Avenue begins Monday, August 19 and will last up to four days. Washington Street and its sidewalks will be closed between 27th Avenue and 28th Avenue during work hours.
• Beginning Wednesday, August 21, crews will start to grind down 27th Avenue between Washington Street and Lake Road as well as Washington Street between 23rd and 27th Avenue to prepare for final asphalt paving. No street parking will be permitted. Through traffic will be restrictive, while residents will retain access to their driveways during the grind process. When the new asphalt road is poured, all access will be restricted during the drying process. Residents will be informed exactly when new asphalt will be poured and how long the drying process will take via door flyer or in person. 

 Week of Aug. 16 

• Crews will begin asphalt pouring 27th Avenue between Washington Street and Lake Road on Aug. 27 through Aug. 30. All road access is restricted while asphalt is drying.
• Crews will repair the sewer mainline on Washington Street at SE 35th Avenue using the pipe-bursting construction method.

Week of Aug. 9

For the rest of this week, crews will continue to reconstruct sidewalks and driveways on the eastern side of SE 27th Avenue from Washington Street to Lake Road. Most driveways have been completed and are in the drying stage. 

Crews will also begin work to repair the sewer mainline using a pipe bursting method on Edison Street from SE 35th Avenue to the intersection of SE Edison Street and SE 37th Avenue. Detours will be in place, and we encourage travelers to Milwaukie Expressway, SE Lake Road, and SE 34th Avenue to navigate around the detours. Access will be maintained for residents.

Week of Aug. 12

Crews will repair the sewer mainline on SE 35^th Avenue from SE Sellwood Street to SE Washington Street using the pipe bursting method. SE 35th Avenue will be closed between the previously mentioned street extents. Watch for detours and use the alternative access routes listed above. Access will be maintained for residents.
Note, construction schedules are subject to vary. Stay informed by checking this project page for updates or sign up for email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Update (7/26/2024)

For the next two weeks, crews will continue to reconstruct sidewalks and driveways on the eastern side of SE 27th Avenue from Washington Street to Lake Road. Construction of new ADA-standard curb ramps will begin along SE Washington Street as well.

Driveway Impacts Expected

We will coordinate directly with neighbors who will have their driveways impacted. Neighbors with impacted driveways can expect access to be limited for up to three weeks, beginning with the first day of prep work through the drying process. Concrete takes 48 hours to dry before it can be walked on and up to 10 days until it can be driven on. 

Thank you for your cooperation as we make these necessary improvements. We hope to complete concrete work quickly to grant access again as soon as possible.

Note, construction schedules are subject to vary. Stay informed by checking this project page for updates or sign up for email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Update (7/12/2024): 

Week of July 15 – Crews will reconstruct driveways and sidewalks along SE 27th Avenue between SE Washington Street and SE Lake Road.

Week of July 22 – Crews will continue to reconstruct driveways along SE 27th Avenue and begin to reconstruct driveways and ADA-standard curb ramps along SE Washington Street between SE 23rd and SE 27th Avenues.

Please watch for signs indicating detours, road closures, and reduced speed limits. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe construction zone. Note, construction schedules are subject to change. Stay informed by checking this project page for updates or sign up for email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Update (6/28/2024): 

July 1 - 3:  Crews will complete investigative work on the Spring Creek culvert under Washington Street to prepare for upcoming maintenance work. Washington Street will be closed to through traffic between SE 27th Avenue and 28th Avenue during this work.

Please watch for signs indicating detours, road closures, and reduced speed limits. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe construction zone.

Work will pause Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 for Independence Day.

Note, construction schedules are subject to change. Stay informed by checking this project page for updates or sign up for email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Update (6/17/24):

Work will pause for approximately two weeks.

On July 1-3, crews plan to investigate the Spring Creek culvert under Washington Street at 27th Avenue.

Update (5/31/24):

Week of June 3 - Stormwater repairs will continue on Washington Street from Penzance Street to just east of Oak Street. Detours will be in place.

Week of June 10 - Crews will repair the sewer mainline on 32nd Avenue south of Washington Street and rebuild several sidewalks and driveway entries along 27th Avenue and 35th Avenue south of Washington Street.

Update (5/17/24):

Stormwater repairs will continue on Washington Street past 30th Avenue and up to Oak Street next week. Detours will be in place. Look for flaggers. Crews will pause work for the Memorial Day holiday on Friday, May 24 and will continue construction on Tuesday, May 28.

Update (5/14/2024):

For the rest of this week and into early next week, crews will repair the stormwater mainline on Washington Street between 29th Avenue and 30th Avenue. Next week, crews will continue stormwater repairs past 30th Avenue and continue up to Oak Street. Washington Street will be closed on the north side of Oak Street to 29th Street. Detours will be in place. Look for flaggers.

Update (4/29/2024):

Additional Road Closure Notice for Tuesday, April 30

Beginning Tuesday, April 30, Washington Street will be closed at Oak Street where the crews will be working for the next four weeks. Drivers will detour onto 34th and 35th Avenue to Lake Road. Local traffic and emergency personnel access will be maintained.

This closure is in addition to the closure noted below (on Madison Street between 31st Avenue and 30th Avenue).

Please watch for signs indicating detours, road closures, and reduced speed limits.

Update (4/26/2024):

Two-Week Construction Look Ahead Schedule
Please note, construction schedules are subject to change.
 
Week of April 29
•    Crews will repair the stormwater mainline on Washington St. roughly between 28th Ave. and 30th Ave.
•    Crews will repair the stormwater mainline on Madison St. between 30th Ave. and 31st Ave.

Week of May 6 
•    Crews will continue to repair the stormwater mainline on Madison St. between 30th Ave. and 31st Ave.
•    Crews will rebuild several sidewalks and driveway entries along SE 27th Avenue and SE 35th Avenue, south of Washington St.

Please watch for signs indicating detours, road closures, and reduced speed limits.

Update (4/19/2024):

Two-Week Construction Look Ahead Schedule
Please note, construction schedules are subject to change.
 
Week of April 22 
•    Crews will continue to repair the stormwater mainline on Washington St. between 23rd Ave. and 27th Ave. See detour map in the “Downloads” section below. 

Week of April 29 
•    Crews will continue to repair the stormwater mainline on Washington St. between 23rd Ave. and 27th Ave.
•    Crews will repair the stormwater mainline on Madison St. between 30th Ave. and 31st Ave. Expect a road closure on that block of Madison St. with a detour in place.

Update (4/8/2024):

Upcoming Construction Work and Detours:

Starting April 12, crews will repair the stormwater mainline on SE Washington Street between 23rd and 27th Avenue. This work will require a road closure on Washington Street. Drivers will be detoured using the alternative routes in the (click this link to view) detour map.

Crews will then move east along Washington Street and close one or two blocks at a time as they continue the stormwater pipe repair. Please watch for signs indicating detours, road closures, and reduced speed limits. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe construction zone.

Stay informed and sign up for regular email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov.

Update (3/22/2024):

Landis and Landis Construction, the city’s contractor, is moving equipment into the work area. This week they began digging small holes to identify underground utilities and performed survey work. 

During the week of March 22 and the week April 1, they will run a video camera down some stormwater mainline pipes and record the condition of the pipes. They will then do repairs on the stormwater mainline on Madison Street from 30th Avenue and 32nd Avenue and on 32nd Avenue north of Madison Street.

Sign up for regular email updates by emailing milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov with your request.

Update (1/12/2024):

The construction start date has been delayed due to estimated timing for the pressure reducing valve (PRV) manufacturing and delivery.  The contractor felt that residents would prefer they delay the start instead of beginning underground pipe replacement then disappearing from the site for a month or so with temporary metal plates covering the trenches in the roadway.  Once the PRV delivery date is confirmed, the schedule will be revised and notices will be sent to residents.

Update (11.27.2023):  

Last week, we mailed a newsletter to residents within two blocks of the project site, as well as the residents and businesses to the west down to 99E. It informed them that construction would begin in December and contained the project map and what to expect during construction. Scroll below to the “Downloads” section to see a copy.

Update (10.13.2023):

Landis and Landis Construction LLC was awarded the construction contract for the project.  Construction is tentatively planned to start in December 2023.  To receive construction updates for the project, email milwaukiesafe@milwaukieoregon.gov to be added to the email list.

Update (5.25.23): 

100% design is almost complete and the project will go out for best-value-construction bid in June.  Construction is anticipated to be over two years because of the limited in-water work window for Spring Creek that limits culvert construction to only occurring between July 15^th to August 31^st each year to limit disturbance to fish passage.

Update (1.10.23): 

Work is progressing on the design. 

• During 60% design review, it was determined that some additional water work is necessary to add a pressure reducing valve at the intersection of Washington Street and 30^th Avenue.  This is necessary because it is the transition point between two water pressure zones.
• Right-of-way acquisition or permanent maintenance easements are needed to complete the culvert work at Washington Street and 27^th Avenue.  AKS has hired a subconsultant to coordinate this work with the impacted property owners.
• The 60% design engineer’s cost estimate was almost double the available budget.  This is partly due to the higher cost of construction over the past year or two.  Costs may be down when the project is out for bid, but the design is now being revised to add some bid alternatives to allow more flexibility for construction within the available budget.