3rd Street Underpass

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Stormwater Infrastructure Improvement Project

The construction of this project is complete and includes a series of storm water drainage structures that work together as a comprehensive system during storm and snow melt events. As a result, we have substantially reduced the risks for groundwater contamination, improved automobile safety and emergency vehicle access by minimizing underpass road closures due to flooding.

Project Background - Two Problems, One Project

The City owns and operates the railroad underpass located along the 3rd Street corridor. The underpass was constructed in the 1930's to provide an un-restricted crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. As the low point of the surrounding basin, the underpass accumulates storm water during storm events and carries with it two problems:

Risk of contamination to our local well water.
The storm water frequently overwhelms the drainage facilities within the underpass and leads to flooding. Flooding often requires full closure of the underpass, which disrupts travel and commerce and also creates safety concerns, especially for emergency response in the area.

The project design includes a series of landscaped swales, filtering ponds, and a storm water conveyance system that work together as a comprehensive system during storm and snow melt events. Once constructed, this system of storm water drainage structures will both reduce the risk of well water contamination and minimize underpass flooding.

Project Map

Third Street Underpass Project

Schedule A:

This portion of the project includes storm water swales and planters located in the residential area northeast of the 3rd street underpass at several locations along NE Clay Ave, NE Burnside Ave, and NE 5th St. These improvements provide a mechanism to intercept storm water to reduce the flows that reach the underpass.

Schedule B

Schedule B includes the regional storm water pond near the parkway and the conveyance piping system that connects the regional storm water pond with the pumping facilities at the underpass. The conveyance piping system consists of large diameter transmission and collection piping. The piping runs in Scott Street, Scott/2nd Street, Anue Street, and then under the railroad to the regional storm water pond.

Schedule C:

Schedule C is the underpass itself. The underpass work included the removal of the previous pump station and associated collection facilities, as well as the decommissioning of the drill holes. New, large diameter collection piping was installed to route storm water to a new pump station. The pump station now discharges to the conveyance system in schedule B.

Stormwater Program

City of Bend's Stormwater Program covers both water quantity issues aimed to prevent localized flooding, to ensure public safety, and water quality issues focusing on protecting both our surface water and our groundwater resources.

Discover more about keeping our waters clean: