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County staff brief board on proposed 5½-month River Road closure for deep sewer and developer work; city, CWS coordination ongoing
Summary
A developer has requested a roughly five-and-a-half-month full closure of River Road to install a deep gravity sewer and utility work in a constrained segment; county staff and Clean Water Services said approvals are near final and the closure would be coordinated with concurrent utility work to limit repeated impacts.
Land Use & Transportation Director Steven Roberts briefed the board that a private developer has requested a lengthy closure of River Road to complete constrained construction work, including a deep gravity sewer installation and related utilities for the Witch Hazel Village South area.
Roberts said the applicant requested the closure because the work area is physically constrained by existing development on both sides of the roadway and because the deep trench requires extensive shoring and large construction equipment. "We've been approached by a developer that is requesting a fairly lengthy closure of River Road," Roberts said, adding staff’s preference to approve a conservative, worst-case closure window rather than repeatedly extend a shorter closure.
Clean Water Services Director Rick Henley described coordination with the developer and the city of Hillsboro: the pipe work in this phase will later be owned and operated by the city, and CWS staff said they are coordinating to avoid multiple disruptive closures by sequencing the county, developer and CWS force-main work together. Henley said CWS’s planned work is part of the district’s capital program and the timing is intended to reduce repeated impacts.
City approvals and schedule: County staff told the board they have checked with Hillsboro public-works staff and that engineering plans are close to final approval; several minor paperwork items remain to be cleared before permits issue. Staff said, if the board authorizes closure, a 14-day minimum public-notice period will be required before barricades and signed detours are deployed. Roberts said the applicant is targeting an early start and that staging and detour signs will be in place when the closure begins.
Impacts and mitigation: Staff acknowledged significant travel disruption for local residents and said they will publish clear detour maps and place signage. The board discussed alternatives and asked staff to include clear maps and distance comparisons in the formal agenda materials and public notices so residents can plan alternate routes.
Next steps: The closure request will be presented as a formal agenda item with a staff report, maps, and public comment during the board’s upcoming meeting. Staff will finalize coordination with the city of Hillsboro, confirm permit status, and ensure a public-notice plan before any closure is implemented.
Ending: Roberts said staff will bring the proposal and final materials to the board for formal action; boards and public hearings were expected as part of the county's usual closure authorization process.
