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City awards $5.28 million contract for Lakeview Boulevard drainage and pedestrian upgrades
Summary
Council authorized a public-works contract with Knife River Corporation to reconstruct 1.15 miles of Lakeview Boulevard, add stormwater treatment to reduce runoff to Oswego Lake, and construct ADA-compliant sidewalks; the motion passed 6-0 and directed staff to return with options for additional shoulder improvements.
The Lake Oswego City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 7 to authorize the city manager to sign a public improvements contract with Knife River Corporation for the Lakeview Boulevard Street and Drainage Improvement Project.
The project covers about 1.15 miles of Lakeview Boulevard between South Shore Boulevard and Iron Mountain Boulevard. City staff and the chosen contractor will add new stormwater infrastructure and treatment (including an underground stormwater vault and filter cartridges by the swim park), reconstruct a failing roadway substructure, and construct an ADA-compliant raised sidewalk from South Shore to the Gooden Easement. A raised crosswalk at the Lake Grove Swim Park is included to improve pedestrian safety.
"The first thing residents will notice is the utility relocation companies doing their work," Senior Associate Engineer Heike Shipton told the council, noting multiple conflicts with existing electric, gas and fiber lines and that temporary traffic pattern changes will be required during construction. Shipton said construction will start with utility relocation work in February, the initial segment through the swim park should be completed by June to preserve swim-park access, and a mid- to late-August full closure for railroad crossing work could last about a week.
Vote and motion details The council motion authorized the city manager to sign a contract with Knife River Corporation for work order 333 — Lakeview Boulevard Street and Drainage Improvement Project — "in the amount of $5,277,432," and directed staff to return with options to make shoulder improvements on the roadway east of the Gooden Easement to Summit. The motion passed 6-0.
Why it matters: The corridor currently carries roughly 3,000 vehicles per day, has minimal stormwater infrastructure and experiences ponding after heavy rains. The design is constrained by limited right-of-way, steep terrain and trees on private property; staff said full utility undergrounding was not feasible because of cost. Council members emphasized pedestrian and cyclist safety in the narrow, curved sections and asked staff to pursue additional measures and public education about safe passing where appropriate.
Schedule and communications: Staff said the contractor intends to operate a temporary one-way eastbound traffic pattern to complete initial pipe installation and will maintain outreach through a project website, resident emails, a construction hotline and city communications channels. Anticipated project completion is late 2025.
Ending: Councilors praised staff for leveraging federal and local funds and approved the contract while adding direction to study shoulder improvements and return to council with options.
