Southeast Interceptor, Segments 4&5R, 2S&3, Phase I Extension

The Southeast Interceptor project is a new deep gravity sewer in southeast Bend, increasing system capacity and connecting previously unserved areas. Completion of the project has allowed subsequent projects to decommission numerous city-owned and maintained pump stations and provided hundreds of homes in southeast Bend the ability to connect to the gravity sewer and abandon existing individual septic systems. As more homes move away from individual septic systems, the groundwater quality in the area continues to improve.

The project was designed and constructed in five individual phases between 2010 and 2018 with a total length of almost 34,000 linear feet of 24-inch and 30-inch gravity sewer pipe. DOWL provided construction management, inspection, and public involvement services for the final three segments – Segment 4&5R, Segment 2S&3, and Phase 1 Extension – totaling almost 24,000 linear feet. The success of these project segments was attributed to DOWL’s approach to construction management through transparent communication and addressing challenges with open-minded solutions.

Public involvement played a huge role in the success of the project, as the Southeast Interceptor project impacted a wide variety of stakeholders, including individual residents, small and large businesses, delivery drivers, Oregon Department of Transportation personnel, and the regional hospital staff and users. DOWL’s approach to public involvement included public meetings, mailers, weekly email updates, and a project information line where individuals could call with specific questions. The public involvement model DOWL created has since been replicated on numerous projects and has become the new standard for large City of Bend infrastructure projects.