The Ashland Pond Park will soon be the site of a major Public Works construction project for the duration of 2022 and into 2023. Park users should be prepared to expect trail and access point closures at various times during the project, which will be put in place to ensure the safety of the public and the construction crews.
Background: The City of Ashland is being required by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to relocate the outfall of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) from its current location in Ashland Creek to a new location in Bear Creek, adjacent to Ashland Pond. The outfall is the location at the end of a pipe where treated water from the WWTP is discharged into the creek. Moving the outfall will enable the City to comply with important state and federal water quality regulations, established by the federal Clean Water Act.
Schedule: The City cannot provide a detailed and precise schedule, as national and global materials shortages require staff to stay “flexible” in terms of construction schedule expectations. Some generalities are provided below, subject to change:
During the week of June 20, some preliminary work may begin, such as surveying and staking the construction zone, and storing materials that will be used for environmental compliance during construction.
During the week of June 27, materials permitting, the City anticipates that the contractor will mobilize on site and begin site preparation, which will include tasks like installing erosion and sediment control Best Management Practices (BMPs), developing a temporary staging site for materials and equipment, plus some initial site work. The City expects the contractor will request the park and its access points be closed to the public to ensure public safety and maintain a safe job site.
During the week of July 11, construction of the new outfall in Bear Creek and associated work at Ashland Pond is expected to commence. Work at the pond will continue through the summer during normal working hours, Mondays through Fridays. The pond and its access paths will remain inaccessible to the public during construction.
After completing the in-water work portion of this job, the contractor will undertake installation of a new effluent pipeline extending from the newly-construct outfall to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. A schedule is not currently available for this portion of the project, but the City anticipates that the project will be substantially complete before October 2023.
The City of Ashland will continue to inform the public and coordinate with stakeholders as more information becomes available regarding the actual construction schedule. More information will be available at www.ashland.or.us/healthycreeks.
For more information on the project or to get added to an email list for project updates, please send an email to the City of Ashland Public Works Department at healthycreeks@ashland.or.us
Original source can be found here.
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