Many significant infrastructure improvements are coming to Hood River in the coming years including safety upgrades and traffic lights at Cascade and Rand
Infrastructure projects key City focus
This fiscal year, the City of Hood River devotes an abundance of focus, management and resources to multiple permanent infrastructure projects in various sizes and stages from preliminary design to construction. According to the City’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan, Fiscal Year 2020-21 has more infrastructure projects than any in the five-year period ending July 2025. Thirty percent of projects in that period occur this fiscal year totaling nearly $11.5 million in costs.
Water, Sewer, Storm-water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects

Waterfront Stormline Replacement
The first phase of a multi-year project to replace waterfront storm pipelines recently commenced north and east of the intersection of Riverside Drive and No. 8th Street. The project, under contract with Landis & Landis Construction, runs from mid-September through mid-December and will require some street closures.

Infiltration / Inflow and Lead Joint Replacement Projects
Multiple water-sewer projects are planned in the next year to replace lead-jointed water pipes and aging clay sewer pipes. As part of the City’s 10-year Infiltration / Inflow and lead joint replacement capital improvement plan, the first of these projects will be designed this fall with construction planned for spring/summer 2021. All City of Hood River clay pipes and lead-jointed waterlines are slated for replacement by 2030. Despite their name, city-owned lead-jointed water lines pose no risk to public drinking water; however, they are past their useful life and mandated to be replaced.
Elevated Sewer Line
A contract for preliminary design to replace the Elevated Sewer Line located on the south side of I-84 was recently awarded to Tetra Tech. The project is anticipated to involve two pump stations: one on the south side of the railroad tracks pumping to the west and another by the Mt. Hood Railroad lift station pumping north and west, and approximately 4,550 linear feet of 6”-10” pipe to route flows across the 2nd Street overpass to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. FEMA is funding 75% of the $400,000 preliminary design project, with $100,000 contributed by the City. Though the project is years out, FEMA funding applications must be submitted from October to December. Once preliminary design is complete, the City plans to apply for final design and construction next fall. If awarded by the end of 2022, construction would occur in 2024.
New UV Treatment System at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
The WasteWater Treatment Plant has several enhancement projects planned, the largest of which is a UV Treatment System replacement, followed by a Biosolids Storage Bay expansion, and replacement of Digester Gas Mixing system, building maintenance and cleanout.
The UV treatment system design is nearing completion and the project will be advertised for bid this fall for spring construction to replace a UV system past its useful life. The project will modify five concrete channels, place the new treatment system in the farthest channel, and keep the existing system as back-up. Pumps will move behind the UV treatment system to completely disinfect water, allowing for more efficiency in the wastewater process.
The City is proceeding with a project to evaluate the feasibility of a fats, oil and grease co-generator as part of the goal to reduce energy use in City facilities.
Intersection and Sidewalk Projects
Rand Road/US-30-Cascade Avenue Improvements
Improvements at this intersection include the alignment of the north and south roads, sidewalk and curb changes, and the addition of traffic signaling and street lighting. These upgrades are intended to make pedestrian and vehicle crossings safer. Oregon Department of Transportation’s self-guided tour offers project details.
2nd and Oak streets Improvements
The long-awaited intersection enhancements at 2nd and Oak streets is in preliminary design. In addition to adding a traffic signal, curb bump-outs will shorten crossing distances. With final design following, construction will likely occur spring 2022.

Elevated Sidewalk Replacement
This project is to replace the dilapidated elevated sidewalk on the north side of May Street between 13th Street and Katie Lane. A new retaining wall will be installed in the existing right-of-way, replacing materials that have eroded underneath the sidewalk and roadway with new road fill and surfacing materials. The project is in final design with anticipated 2022 construction.
Please consider signing up HERE to receive quarterly Emails of future editions of Hood River City Connect.
Si le gusta lo que acaba de leer, considere inscribirse AQUI para recibir correos electrónicos trimestrales de futuras ediciones de Hood River City Connect.