DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2021
|
|
Welcome to the City of Springfield’s Development and Public Works Department newsletter, where each quarter we’ll update you on projects and activities happening throughout our community. It’s National Public Works Week (NPWW) May 16th-22nd so we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate staff and the services and programs they provide, from street maintenance to stormwater management, to wastewater services, development and building, and much more. Development and Public Works services are essential to our health, safety, and quality of life. This year’s NPWW theme is Stronger Together, and we recognize that the impact community members and public works professionals have on our community is magnified when we work together.
Customer service is the driving force for the City of Springfield’s Development and Public Works Department (DPW). The department is divided into three divisions, all overseeing critical parts of the City, including our natural resources, project planning, street maintenance, traffic control systems, and wastewater systems. The Community Development Division oversees the long-term future of our community, how we might grow, and implements capital construction projects to support that growth. The Environmental Services Division protects Springfield’s water resources including management of the City’s stormwater program and as a partner in the regional wastewater program, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission. The Operations Division keeps the City’s systems like streets, stormwater, and wastewater working properly. Together these divisions make up the largest department within the City of Springfield serving every member of our community. For more frequent updates and to learn about the things we’re working on follow us on social media and be sure to share this newsletter with a friend or colleague and encourage them to subscribe at this link.
|
|
If you have been traveling around Springfield, you may have noticed street repairs happening. In November 2018, Springfield voters approved a five-year, $10 million general obligation bond to fund street repairs on a list of priority commercial streets in need of repair.
The streets being fixed this year and their current status are:
-
Olympic St from Mohawk Blvd to 28th St – work underway
-
Mohawk Blvd from G St to Hwy 126 – work underway
-
42nd St from Main St to approx. International Paper – work underway
-
Thurston Rd from 58th St to 69th St – to be started
-
High Banks Rd/ 58th St from 52nd St to Thurston Rd – to be started
Why do this work? Once repairs are completed, these highly traveled streets will be back to good condition and their useful life span will be extended. Fixing streets through preservation and repairs can cost 4 to 10 times less than full street reconstruction in the future when they reach the end of their lifespan.
It takes a team to implement these projects. Survey work occurs first. Then engineers enter the survey data into a software called AutoCAD. From there, they complete the design work that ultimately provides the plans that are used by construction crews to lay out the design on the street for the repairs. Design work accounts for the milling and paving of the street, and ADA requirements with the inclusion of Pedestrian Crossing Ramps in the construction scope. As required by law when any street is going to have major preservation or repairs completed on it, ADA requirements, including Pedestrian Crossing Ramps, must be included in the scope of repairs.
As with all street construction or repair projects, we ask for your patience and to slow your speed when in work zones for safety. Please watch for construction signs, crews, and equipment in the streets. While we will try to minimize traffic impacts as much as we can during these street repair projects, there will be times when lane closures and flaggers may be needed. To stay apprised of traffic impacts during construction of the street repair projects visit TripCheck.com.
|
|
Introducing Springfield's Stormwater Team
Housed within the Environmental Services Division, your Stormwater Team works year-round to ensure our stormwater system functions at its best and to help our waterways stay clean and healthy.
We collaborate on stormwater planning with other Development and Public Works groups and regional partners to prevent flooding on our city streets, maintain open waterways and underground pipes, and educate community members about how our stormwater system works, plus ways to prevent water pollution. We respond to reports of stormwater pollution and dumping, lead service projects that support a healthy natural water cycle, and work with businesses to develop good housekeeping practices for cleaner runoff.
This spring, in addition to our normal stormwater projects, the Stormwater Team is planning some fun activities!
-
Native plants – As we have for the past decade, the Stormwater Team plants native species along Springfield's waterways. These help to reduce invasive plants, clean stormwater runoff, reduce bank erosion, create habitat for local wildlife, and add important shade that cools the water for fish. To participate in future plantings, such as for a group service project, visit bit.ly/SpfldORStreamTeam.
-
UpStream Art – Now through June 9, the Stormwater Team is seeking applications from artists for this summer’s UpStream Art mural painting project. Five Oregon artists will be selected to beautify the City by painting murals around storm drains near Agnes Stewart Middle School. Details at bit.ly/upstreamart.
-
Canines for Clean Water 2022 Calendar Contest – At the end of May we’ll host a canine photo contest for Springfield residents. Twelve pooches will be selected to be photographed and featured in the Canines for Clean Water 2022 Calendar, which will be distributed for free in November. Information on how to enter will be posted on Springfield’s Facebook page and also on our website at bit.ly/caninecal.
In future newsletters, we’ll share easy and effective clean water tips that everyone in our Springfield family can use. Learn more about the work done by the Stormwater Team at springfieldstreams.org.
|
|
As summer approaches the Operations Division begins its annual preventative street maintenance program including crack sealing and slurry sealing. This year a slurry seal will be applied to streets and neighborhoods throughout Springfield that are due for this routine maintenance. Over fifty streets will receive a slurry seal coating consisting of asphalt emulsion, sand, and rock which is applied to the street surface at 3/8” thick. This cost-effective maintenance treatment extends the life of streets and reduces the need for a more costly repair. Neighborhoods will be notified prior to the start of work so vehicles and other objects can be removed from the work area. The full list of streets is available here.
The Operations Division will also be out in the community sealing cracks that have developed in our streets. Throughout the year streets are surveyed to determine which ones have cracks or extreme cracking, also called alligatoring. These cracks allow water to enter the base layers of the street which can lead to much more expensive repairs. By sealing the cracks with a hot asphaltic rubber, we can keep the water out and prolong the life of our streets. Plans for which streets will receive crack sealing this year are still being developed and neighborhoods will be notified before work begins. You can find the latest construction updates on our website.
|
|
We have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Spring Clean-Up. We made this decision based on factors resulting from COVID-19 including the limited availability of volunteers and community partners that we rely on for a successful event.
We had been hopeful that things would improve enough so we could hold the event this spring, but it is not possible at this time. As conditions change, we will revisit the possibility of a Clean-Up event later this year. We look forward to the day when we’re able to hold the annual Spring Clean-Up once again, like the 2019 event seen in this photo. Thank you for your understanding.
|
|
|
Stay Connected with Springfield |
|
|
|
Want to learn more about all that the City of Springfield is doing throughout our community and how you can get involved? Sign up on our website to receive timely information directly in your inbox, specific to the topics that interest you! From updates on affordable housing to news on the City’s Main Street improvement efforts to volunteer opportunities to help keep our waterways clean, we offer a variety of ways to stay connected with Springfield. Subscribe to any of these email lists using the button below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
