Scenic Dr. to get final phase of stabilization; Logging set for Dog River Pipeline
East Scenic Drive has had the majority of stabilization done to retain the embankment on the north side of the street in The Dalles. Here you can see the concrete and I-beam work done by Crestline Construction in past years. Paving, curbs and sidewalks are to follow in coming years.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles City Council approved a project to complete the East Scenic Drive stabilization project at their regular city council meeting on May, 9.
The stabilization work has been ongoing since 2015 in an effort to prevent the embankment to the north of the road from falling.
The Kelly Avenue Landslide, which originated at a depth of about 200 feet, was originally investigated and re-mediated with the installation of de-watering wells and monitoring inclinometers in the late 1980's to mitigate the landslide movements that were occurring.
Many house foundations in the area were undermined by the slide.
Since that time, quarterly monitoring of the de-watering wells and inclinometers has been performed and the landslide has been deemed stable.
Stabilization Improvements to an approximate 1/4 mile segment of East Scenic Drive, between Jefferson Street/Terrace Drive and Esther Way are mostly complete.
On May 9, Councilors unanimously voted to complete phase three of the project, which will stabilize the last 265 linear feet of the project.
Contractors will drive steel I-beams deep into the ground and then pour concrete around them to hold the bank back. Additional concrete will also be used to retain the embankment between the I-beams.
Project Engineer Mike Bosse said the work will be completed in four areas in the ¼ mile stretch with four different sections measuring, 110, 45, 40, and 70 feet.
Crestline Construction is set to be awarded the contract for the work after coming in at a price of $547,007.
The second-lowest bidder was Granite Construction at $1,025,274.
Bosse said the contract requires the work to be complete by late October.
City Engineer Dale McCabe told Council the work will be followed by a fourth phase in coming years that will rebuild the East Scenic Drive roadway system, including the construction of curb, gutter, and sidewalk between Jefferson Street/Terrace Drive and Esther Way.
Dog River Pipeline
Councilors also unanimously authorized the City Manager to award a contract to Bounds Excavation in an amount not to exceed $469,650 for the removal of trees in for the pipeline in a 3.5-mile stretch that is 25 feet wide. The property is owned by the US Forrest Service. The City will receive no funding from the sale of logs, as they are property of the Forrest Service.
The work is being done to replace the section of the Dog River pipeline which is approximately 3.5 miles long and has a 20-inch diameter. Public Works Director David Anderson said the new line will allow for greater operational flexibility as the city utilizes both surface and well water in supplying the city and commercial industry.
The pipeline will also augment the city’s ability to supply millions of gallons of water daily to future Google data plants if built. Current plans call for storing surface water in The Dalles Groundwater Reservoir via wells on Google property in the Port of The Dalles.
