Work starts on North First Place next week

By on Thursday, April 14th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – The first of three major projects begin on North First Place in Hermiston next week. Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said the first project will see the road closing near its intersection with Ridgeway Avenue until as late as May 31.

“Because they are three separate projects, some of them will disrupt traffic a lot less than others,” Morgan said. “The closures will occur for a period of time, reopen for a while, then more significant closures, then reopen for a while. Suffice it to say that it’s going to be a challenge and folks should be preparing alternate routes.”

The first project will see utility crews boring under the street and railroad line to tie a gravity sewer line into the existing main. This will replace the aging mechanical pump at lift station No. 3.

The second project is a water line replacement. It will completely overhaul the 100-year-old water main that runs the length of North First Place from Hermiston Avenue to Elm Avenue. That work will be done beginning this summer and lasting to late fall.

The final project is a $4.5 million roadway reconstruction project which is being funded by the state of Oregon. The project will include curbs, gutters, and pedestrian access. That work will begin in early 2023 and be finished by fall of that year.