Category Archives: Redevelopment Agency

Engineering, Redevelopment Agency

Boones Ferry Road Project Reaches Major Milestone

Great news! Last night, we reached a major milestone: PGE removed the final remaining overhead utility pole in the project area [shown below]!

All utility overhead poles are now removed and all utility cables and wires are underground within the project limits! Next time you travel through the project area, see if you can notice the difference. Here are a few before and after photos:

Undergrounding utilities has been a highly complex and complicated effort since construction started in summer 2019. THANK YOU to all the utility companies, property owners, businesses, customers, and the traveling public for your patience and coordination with this huge feat. There have been many challenges and obstacles along the way, but with collaboration, communication and teamwork, we were able to accomplish the task!

Upcoming Traffic Impacts – Bryant Road & Firwood Road Closure

Crews are making solid progress building the new raised landscaped medians between Bryant Road and Madrona Street. Concrete pours are scheduled to occur over the next few weeks for portions of the medians.

Soon, the intersection of Bryant x Firwood x Boones Ferry Road will be completely reconstructed and paved.

This intersection work will result in a temporary closure on portions of both Bryant Road and Firwood Road. To minimize impacts, this work is planned to take place over one weekend starting at 10 p.m. Friday, November 6 through 6 a.m. Monday, November 9.

During this time:

  • Bryant Road will be closed to through traffic between Upper Drive and Boones Ferry Road
  • Northbound traffic on Bryant Road will be detoured onto Upper Drive and Reese Road
  • Firwood Road will be closed to through traffic between Waluga Drive and Boones Ferry Road
  • Traffic on Firwood will be detoured onto Waluga Drive and Madrona Street
  • The signal will be turned off and flaggers will direct traffic through the intersection
  • One lane in each direction is expected to remain open on Boones Ferry Road during most times
  • Access will remain open to all businesses in the corridor – use Boones Ferry Road to access business driveways
  • There will be periods where traffic will be traveling on gravel or rock while they rebuild and grade the roadway – drive safely

Please plan ahead for extra travel time or find an alternate route during these closures. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.

For the latest information, visit www.boonesferryproject.org where you can sign-up for updates. You can also email info@boonesferryproject.org or call 503-697-6573.

Engineering, Redevelopment Agency

Boones Ferry Road Continues its Transformation

Construction continues to make great progress on the transformation of Boones Ferry Road and we are on track for completion of the project in late 2021!

If you’ve traveled along Boones Ferry Road recently, you may have noticed some exciting changes:

  • New traffic signal poles and mast arms have been installed

  • Concrete curbs, ADA curb ramps, and sidewalks continue to be placed throughout the project area

  • Street lighting poles and foundations are being installed

  • Asphalt placed on portions of Bryant Road, Boones Ferry Road, Quarry Road and Lake Grove Elementary Driveway

  • Stormwater pipe, stormwater planter facilities and landscaped planters are being built

New Traffic Change Coming – Center Median Work

Another major traffic change is coming in mid-late September in the area between Madrona Street and Bryant Road. Once the new sidewalks on Boones Ferry Road are complete south of Bryant Road, crews will move the temporary pedestrian route onto the new sidewalk, and start working in the center of the roadway on the new landscaped median.

With this new work zone, traffic lanes will be shifted and the temporary center turn lane will be removed between Bryant and Madrona Streets. This will eliminate most left-turn movements in this area. A temporary left-turn pocket will be installed for access to the Lake Grove Shopping Center from Boones Ferry Road. One lane in each direction will remain.

Once the new signalized intersections are activated closer to the end of the project, u-turn movements will be permitted at the five signals – Madrona, Bryant, McDonald’s, Oakridge and Lanewood.

Stay tuned for more information prior to this major traffic change.

Thank you for your patience during these changing traffic patterns. Please plan extra time while traveling in the area.

Speed Zone Reminder – 25 MPH

A temporary speed reduction to 25 MPH on Boones Ferry Road between Washington Court and Mercantile Drive is in place throughout construction.

Support Your Local Businesses

Due to the pandemic, we’ve placed our Shop Lake Grove campaign on hold. Please continue to support your local businesses. Follow the blue cones and signage to access driveways.

Thank you to all residents, businesses, property owners, and the traveling public for your continued patience with the construction and impacts.

More Information

Visit boonesferryproject.org for more information or to sign-up for construction e-news.

You can also email info@boonesferryproject.org, call 503-697-6573 and follow the city on social media with #boonesferryproject and #followthebluecones.

Engineering, Redevelopment Agency

Boones Ferry Road Project News

This is a long overdue project update. Please know although we haven’t posted an update on our project website for a while things have not slowed down on the project. In fact, they have ramped up dramatically since early March.

To skip straight to the longer project update, visit: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/bfp/2020/05/01/construction-update-5-1-20/

Below is a recap:

COVID-19 and Construction

Under the governor’s stay home save lives executive order, your road construction is considered an essential operation. Our goal has been to continue making progress every day on essential infrastructure that is part of the Boones Ferry Road project improvements. We are thankful to provide work for our contractors and deliver vital services to the community.  Stormwater systems, water lines, utilities, roadway pavement, traffic control devices, lighting, pedestrian crossings, sidewalks – all essential infrastructure that are becoming even more critical during the current public health crisis.

Since COVID-19, our contractor and team have actually accelerated work in areas where they were previously restricted. Due to the school closures, the contractor has been able to begin working on the new traffic signal at the Lake Grove Elementary School/Lanewood Street, and begin realigning the school driveway. This work was originally scheduled to take place later this year during summer break.

Also, given traffic has been significantly reduced, the contractor also expanded their work zone further north and has been doing more work during the day.

Project staff and crews are continuing to adhere to the executive order and maintain physical distancing guidelines in the field and site offices.

What’s been happening since mid-March?

A lot! Crews have been focused on:

  • Undergrounding utilities
  • Stormwater lines
  • Water lines
  • Sidewalks
  • Curbs
  • Walls
  • Traffic signals
  • Lighting
  • Gas lines
  • Planters
What’s coming up?
  • Continue work on the new signal at Lanewood Street
  • Continue installing underground conduit and vaults working north towards Lanewood Street
  • PGE and telecommunications companies to remove overhead wiring in southern portion, eventually removing the poles
  • Once poles are removed in area between Bryant and Madrona, crews will pave and install a temporary traffic signal at Bryant/Boones Ferry/Firwood to continue widening work at the intersection
  • Travel lanes will be shifted over to the west side of the new widened roadway between Bryant and Madrona and crews will begin working on the east side along the Lake Grove Shopping Center frontage
  • Continue stormwater, water, gas, illumination installation working north
  • Prepare and install new sidewalks along Albertsons’ frontage, and east side between Bryant and Reese Road

Support Your Businesses

Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the Shop Lake Grove raffle and featured business video promotional campaign are on hold. We will revisit how to approach or relaunch this again in the future.

We continue to support businesses and we encourage residents and customers to support businesses too! Many are still open or offering alternative options for pick-up or delivery during this time.

Check out this ‘Open for Business’ list that the City and Chamber have created including local LO businesses that are open and providing services during COVID-19: https://bit.ly/34ihezf.

We encourage you (businesses or residents that know a business!) to add your information to the list by filling out the survey: https://bit.ly/2yoyHuc. The list is updated frequently with new additions.

More Information

For more information about the Boones Ferry Road project and the latest news, visit http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/bfp/category/project-updates/, email info@boonesferryproject.org or call 503-697-6573.

Redevelopment Agency

CITY HALL PROJECT – “TOPPING OUT” MILESTONE

Crews are close to finishing the steel structure for the new City Hall building. By Friday, the last major beam is scheduled to be put in place which will mark a major milestone in the construction process called “Topping Out”.

Topping out on a construction project is a momentous occasion as it signifies that the structural work is complete and the building is ready for other trades. The tradition goes back to 700 AD when structural framing was all wood, carpenters would place a small tree at the top of the structure with the last major framing member. This was a signal to other trades that the building was safe and ready for them to start.

On Friday, April 3 at 10:00 a.m. the construction crew will be honoring that tradition. A flag and tree will be placed on the last beam and flown into position. The event will be captured by drone video and shared on the project website.

The City encourages celebrating these milestones, however, in an effort to minimize contact and maintain a healthy work site, the event will be limited to the crews working on site. Crews have been observing social separation and take other measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

We look forward to sharing the drone video of the event on the project website and will look for ways to celebrate other project milestones with the community.

For more information, please visit the project website at www.ci.oswego.or.us/lora/new-city-hall-project .

Redevelopment Agency

CITY HALL CONSTRUCTION: STEEL INSTALLATION

The mobile crane is in place, steel has been delivered and crews are ready to begin assembling the steel structure. To take advantage of the good weather, crews will be working on Saturdays during this phase of the project. The steel work is anticipated to be completed by mid-April. A short section of 3rd Street will be closed throughout the course of this work, however, all driveways to businesses and residential properties will remain open.

Work on the project will continue as long as it can be done safely and with consideration to any COVID-19 work restrictions.

For more information please visit the project website at www.ci.oswego.or.us/lora/new-city-hall-project .

Engineering, Public Works, Redevelopment Agency

Boones Ferry Rd Project Team Inspires Future Engineers and Construction Contractors

On Tuesday, March 3, our all-female City project team leading the Boones Ferry Road (BFR) Project engaged 20 students from Lakeridge Middle School in an all-day event to showcase the multi-million dollar road project, and to provide an opportunity to both create and observe engineering and construction in action.

Leading the way

The City project team (Crystal Shum, project lead; Stacy Bluhm, project engineer; and Katy Kerklaan, communications and public outreach), also joined by Erica Rooney, city engineer, and Chad Maxwell, construction manager from Otak, Inc. kicked off the day by sharing their unique stories and backgrounds, personal challenges or obstacles they had overcome, and how they got to where they are today in their careers.

Building a road

To provide the kids with a hands-on experience, the project team and Cheri Davidson (TAG coordinator at Lakeridge) developed a small group activity with defined roles to “Build a Road” based on engineering specifications and plan sheets that resembled similar infrastructure and elements that are being installed as part of the BFR project.

The team provided materials for the kids to purchase, and a tracking sheet for each group to manage their costs. Elements included installing: stormwater access holes, storm pipe, conduit for underground utilities, new sidewalk, new roadway with rock and asphalt, lane striping and the option to install bike lanes.

The group learned there are a myriad of skills involved in engineering and construction – not just math and science – but a lot more problem solving, project management, and working together as a team to resolve issues.

All aboard the excavator

In the afternoon, the project team led the group out in the field to show them some of the real-life issues they deal with, and had them learn from our contractors about how they operate equipment and actually construct the project.

One of the subcontractors for the project – Turney Excavating Inc. – set up stations and the kids learned about some of the technology they use (GPS) in the field and how they operate different pieces of equipment. All the kids climbed aboard a loader and excavator, looked inside 48“ stormwater pipe and access holes, viewed the new sidewalks being formed, new asphalt placed, special artistic elements, and retaining walls that were in different stages of being constructed.

This was not only memorable and rewarding for the kids, but also for the project team, consultants and contractors who participated in the day. We hope it made a difference in the kids’ lives and their career choices!

National Women in Construction Week

This special event was also timely, as it is National Women in Construction Week (March 1-7)! There is still a large gender gap in the civil engineering and construction fields.

We celebrate the wonderful women who work in construction, public works and engineering services in Lake Oswego! You are paving the way for the future.

We are also proud of our all-female project team leading the BFR project to success, and inspiring other women and young girls to work in Engineering and Construction!

For more information about the BFR project, visit www.boonesferryproject.org

Redevelopment Agency

CITY HALL PROJECT – Construction Update

In March, crews will be focused on erecting the steel frame structure for the upper floors of the new city hall. Below is the anticipated schedule (please note that the schedule may change due to unforeseen conditions):

  • March 9: Mobilize on site including setting up the mobile crane. The crane will remain on 3rd Street during this part of the construction.
  • March 11: Steel delivery and beginning of installation. We anticipate 1-3 truck deliveries a day. Trucks will be off-loaded on the southern end of 3rd Street where it is flatter. In addition, materials will be stored on site and along the east side of 3rd Street between A Avenue and Evergreen Road.
  • March 30: Completion of structural steel installation. The metal decking and stairs will follow, but will have less of an impact on the surrounding area. A “Topping Out” celebration will be scheduled for early April.

Work will take place during standard permitted hours: Monday-Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • There will be no on-street parking during this time on the east side of 3rd Street between A Avenue and Evergreen Road.
  • A short section of 3rd Street will be closed daily between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during this work, but opened after construction hours for emergency vehicle access.
  • All access to business and residential driveways will remain open.
  • Flaggers will be assisting with traffic control during certain congested times and on an as needed basis.

For weekly construction updates, please visit the project website at www.ci.oswego.or.us/lora/new-city-hall-project .

Engineering, Redevelopment Agency

Supporting Boones Ferry Road Businesses During Construction

Boones Ferry Road and all its businesses remain open during construction of the new and improved corridor.

The project team and contractor are committed to working with businesses, maintaining access and keeping them informed on what to expect during construction.

The project team developed a Shop Lake Grove marketing campaign and outreach strategy to help support businesses during construction. Here are just some of the efforts being implemented throughout the project:

Signage

Shop Lake Grove a-frame signs, large project signs, blue cones and blue business access signs help direct customers to business driveways and let the traveling public know businesses are open during construction.

Featured Business Videos – Who’s Who on Boones Ferry Road?

Each month, the project team highlights a business located within the active work zone in the project area by creating a short video and article about the business and what they offer. The “Who’s Who on Boones Ferry Road” business focus is posted on the project website, and shared via the City’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). Here are some of the business videos we have created to date:

  1. Lake Grove Family Medical Clinic – September
  2. Olson Pediatric Clinic – October
  3. Zupan’s – November
  4. Healthy Pet – December

Shop Lake Grove Holiday Video Series

Throughout the holiday season, the project team have released a series of short holiday-themed videos with catchy music, featuring project area businesses. These are released on the City’s social media accounts, project website, and have been played on the local Tualatin Valley Community Television channel during city meeting broadcasts.

Monthly Raffle

In late summer, the project-sponsored Shop Lake Grove monthly $100 raffle was launched. To date, there have been more than 400 entries each month (on average). Over 20 businesses are participating and eligible businesses can sign up at any point during the project.

The raffle is all about incentivizing and rewarding customers who continue visiting and supporting businesses during construction. Sharon Hayes, pictured below, was our first raffle winner. She entered at the Bar Method and selected Z Clinic for her gift card. She has since made follow-up appointments at the clinic!

The raffle is free to enter and it starts fresh each month. To enter, stop by a participating business, grab an entry card, drop it in the raffle box and you could win one of two $100 gift cards to a participating business of your choice.

A list of participating businesses can be found here.

The raffle is promoted through the City’s social media accounts, website, project website, project emails, Hello LO, City LoDown and business posters. It is also co-sponsored by the Lake Grove Business Association.

Maria Sandobal (right) from Papa Murphy’s, pictured with LO customer, Nancy Headley (left) who won a $100 gift card for Papa Murphy’s.

Face-to-Face Canvasing

Project staff and the contractor actively visit businesses within the work zones, keeping them informed about the project and upcoming activities.

Social Media

The project team posts regularly on all City social media accounts: sharing information, encouraging business support, promoting shopping local, and utilizing project hashtags including #BoonesFerryProject #ShopLakeGrove and #FollowTheBlueCones

Posters at Businesses

Posters, newsletters and project cards are on display at various businesses to help promote the Shop Lake Grove campaign and provide project contact information to customers.

More Information

For more information about how the City and project team is supporting businesses during construction, visit www.boonesferryproject.org, email info@boonesferryproject.org or call 503-697-6573.

Redevelopment Agency

CITY HALL PROJECT – MAT SLAB POUR

The City Hall Project is nearing a major milestone in the project schedule – the installation of the mat slab for the building (a continuous concrete slab that extends over the entire footprint of the building). This is a major undertaking which in the end will involve over 150 concrete truck trips pouring 1,500 yards of concrete.

Several options were considered to minimize the impact to the surrounding neighborhood and to minimize cost to the public project. One option included completing the work in one day which would have started extremely early in the morning and gone late into the evening. Another option was to do the work over four separate pours which would have extended the impacts over a longer period and increased the cost. Ultimately, it was decided that the least impactful option would be to do two separate concrete pours that start a little earlier and go a little later beyond the typically 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. work day. Below is a summary of the schedule.

Mat Slab Schedule 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Subject to change due to unforeseen conditions. Any changes will be posted on the project webpage: WWW.LAKEOSWEGO.CITY/CITY-HALL-PROJECT

  • Wednesday, November 6: North Mat Slab – 770 yards
  • Tuesday, November 12: South Mat Slab – 743 yards

Access will be maintained to all businesses and residences. Concrete trucks should be finished pouring around noon. The concrete will then be allowed to cure before crews finish the concrete.

Photo Below: Crews have installed the rebar on the north side of the site in preparation for the mat slab pour and work on preparing the south side for the second pour.