By Sarah Brown
Lebanon Local
The City of Lebanon resumed work on the Westside Interceptor construction project this month following a 23-year hiatus.
Its first phase began at the wastewater treatment plant in 1998, with piping out to Highway 20. The second phase, which began Nov. 2, will keep Airway Road between Oak Street and Airport Road closed for several months while crews install sewer piping.
The project will continue into 2023 to, essentially, border the southwest corner of the city. It will extend south to Walker Road, then east along Walker Road to S. Sixth Street; south from Walker and Stoltz Hill roads toward Vaughan Lane; east along Vaughan Lane to S. 5th Street; south on 5th Street from Vaughan Lane, and crossing over to Crowfoot Road; east on Crowfoot Road to View Lane; and along S. Main Street from Joy Street to Crowfoot Road.
The good news about the project is that it will relieve overflow problems that the city’s had with the sewer lines during the winter, according to engineering services director Ron Whitlatch. The bad news is that the construction will cause road closures and inconvenience businesses and homeowners for a period of time.
“This project will substantially alleviate bottlenecking issues with the current interceptor and will expand the sanitary service area to the west and south ends of town,” said assistant city engineer Mike Trippett.
As new lines are installed, city growth will be able to expand on the west side of town, Whitlatch noted.
The project is substantially funded through a loan from the State of Oregon Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Trippett said.
The city has also spent many years setting aside funds to help complete the work, Whitlatch said. There will be no increase in fees on residents for the project.
“We’re looking forward to the successful completion of this project for the citizens of Lebanon,” Trippett said.
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