The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is continuing work started in July 2025 on the Carolina Trunk Sewer Project, a multi‑year effort to repair and replace aging sewer infrastructure in Southwest Portland.
The Carolina Trunk, constructed in the 1930s, is a large‑diameter pipe that carries both sewage and stormwater beneath SW Slavin Road, Interstate 5, and Macadam Avenue. Due to age and structural deterioration, the pipe requires repair and replacement.
Project Overview:
- Construction Start: July 2025.
- Estimated Completion: 2028.
- Scope of Work: Combination of pipe replacement and installation of structural liners to reinforce existing segments.
- Progress to Date: Approximately 750 feet of sewer along Macadam Avenue has been rehabilitated with structural lining.
Current Status:
- Construction is active in multiple segments of the trunk line. Starting this week, the north lane of SW Slavin Road will be closed for up to 18 months. Macadam Avenue at Julia Street will also have periodic lane restrictions southbound to accommodate active construction and the replacement of a section of pipe.
- Work includes both daytime and nighttime operations in certain areas to accommodate traffic and site conditions, including occasional nighttime closures of Interstate 5 to accommodate work on those portions of the pipe running underneath the interstate.
- Traffic impacts and noise disruptions are occurring near Interstate 5 and Macadam Avenue. BES is coordinating with residents and businesses to manage access and minimize disruption.