PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Crews are responding to a large-scale sewage leak underneath the North Columbia Boulevard overpass just north of Lombard Street, which is causing detours and road closures in the area.
The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services initially gave the advisory Thursday evening that the road closure would take place until “at least Friday morning.” However, as of Friday afternoon, they gave an update saying the closure will last at least through next week.
BES said that crews have contained but not fully stopped the sewage leak after working overnight and into Friday assessing the situation. They successfully put up barriers to contain the sewage that surfaced from what is now known to be from a broken pressurized pipe at the base of the bridge.
Crews “are pumping that effluent back into the city’s system to prevent further impacts to the environment,’ BES said.
The section of road affected includes North Columbia Boulevard from North Rivergate to North Burgard roads — which will remain closed until at least next week. Officials said it could take at least two weeks to repair, as it is a “complex” situation.
BES said they are still assessing the incident, determining the extent of the damage to not only the pressurized pipe but the nearby pump station and possibly the base of the bridge itself.
“Engineers with the Portland Bureau of Transportation are working with Environmental Services to assess whether the ramp to the Columbia Boulevard overpass is damaged,” BES said. “The flow of high pressure sewage inside the ramp structure may have damaged the ramp or soils supporting it.”
This sewage has also overflowed into the Columbia Slough and there remains an advisory against making contact with the water due to elevated bacteria levels. BES said that since Thursday, they’ve added signage around the slough warning people not to touch the water.
