Major work expected soon on Union County Fairground’s new plumbing system
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – Big things are happening for the Union County fairgrounds. Following the formal groundbreaking on the fairgrounds new water and septic system in November of 2025, major construction is expected to occur soon.
According to Union County Commissioner Matt Scarfo, who recently met with the Union County Fair Board and Mike Becker Construction, the Fair Board has settled on a plan to span new infrastructure over the Grande Ronde River, rather than drilling under it as was alternatively proposed previously. During the meeting, it was also shared that the plan is to begin with the project’s pump stations, non-disruptive bridge work, and other preliminary elements before crossing the Grande Ronde River and connecting to La Grande.
Due to the disruptive nature of construction, the primary work to span the new pipework over I-84 and the river has been scheduled for around May of 2026. This is to ensure construction does not cause a shutdown of the highway during the more tenuous winter months.
When completed, the project will include modern bathroom and plumbing facilities for the entire fairgrounds, including bathroom and shower stalls for the RV parking area. This will not only reduce the reliance on inconvenient mobile restroom facilities and water tanks during regular fair usage but also help with the logistical burden should the fairgrounds ever be utilized in a regional emergency. Commissioner Scarfo further expressed his hope that the need for portable restrooms during fair season can be eliminated entirely, saving the county money on rental costs.
For those unfamiliar with the project, for years leading up to the 2025 legislative session, Union County had been seeking state support to fund the construction of a new, modern, water and septic system that would connect the fairgrounds to the City of La Grande’s system. As many residents are likely familiar with, the local plumbing system (including the bathrooms) failed well over a decade ago (with plans for new facilities going back over three decades) requiring mobile water and bathroom facilities during events.
During the 2025 legislative session, House Bill 5006 and Senate Bill 5531 provided $2,539,405 in lottery bond funding toward the project, which will be fully allocated in 2027. Ground was officially broken on the project on November 14, 2025.
For more details on the project and to find anecdotes on the groundbreaking, see our previous article here: https://elkhornmediagroup.com/over-a-decade-in-the-making-union-county-breaks-ground-on-its-new-fairgrounds-wastewater-system/
