Northwest 9th Street Neighborhood Infrastructure Project

Project Type:

Capital Project

Project Status:

Design/Engineering

The City of Florence NW 9^th Street Neighborhood Project is a Direct Appropriation from Oregon Senate Bill (SB) 1530 that was awarded to Florence during the 2024 short legislation session.

The City was identified as a local government to receive funding for an infrastructure project to catalyze building much needed housing in Florence. The project unlocks an undeveloped section of the community in the heart of the City with easy access to all necessary and discretionary amenities and services.

As part of our application to the State, the City put forth City owned blocks in the heart of the City Center to construct local streets and utilities to create ready to build lots at a cost of $1.9 million. With the infrastructure investment in the public rights-of-way (ROW) for transportation related facilities, water, wastewater, stormwater and open space (park) the City can unlock and provide access to 6 privately owned blocks and two City owned blocks creating ready to build lots for a minimum of 113 to 176 units of housing for the area that we are calling the Northwest 9th Street Neighborhood.

We anticipate that construction engineering services will be completed late winter 2025 and the project would be advertised for competitive bid in late March 2025, with Florence City Council awarding the project to a general contractor in April 2025. A notice to proceed to the contractor to begin construction is anticipated to be issued late May 2025. Construction is anticipated to take 120 days for substantial completion with final completion occurring within 30 days of substantial completion (total of 150 days from notice to proceed). Depending on weather and the contractor, we anticipate that the infrastructure project (water, wastewater, streets and stormwater) for the NW 9^th Street Neighborhood Project to be completed November 2025.

Status Updates

September 5th, 2025

Crews from Ray Wells, Inc. installed the 8-inch water main within 10th Street, extending it from Greenwood to Fir streets. They also installed the 8-inch water main on Fir Street between 10th and 11th Streets. Crews also installed a 6-inch water line for a new fire hydrant and a 1-inch irrigation service within 10th Street. Additionally, they installed a 1-inch irrigation service within the Fir Street right-of-way for the Elm Park Apartments development.

Crews also begun installing the 12-inch stormwater system in Fir Street, including setting two stormwater manholes and installing the overflow line from one of the stormwater rain gardens to the main stormwater system.

August 29th, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. completed wastewater system installation within Fir and 10th streets. This work included the installation of the sewer laterals that will service the new buildings.

With the sewer system completed, the contractor began installing the conduit for power (grey conduit) and conduits for Spectrum and Hyak (orange and blue colored conduits). The contractor was able to complete the underground conduit installation along the Fir Street corridor.

August 25th, 2025

The long-awaited Groundbreaking Ceremony for the NW 9th Street Neighborhood Improvement Project and the Elm Park Apartments took place on Monday, August 25th. While both projects are already under construction, this event signifies the importance of these two projects and how they will enhance our community – extending critical neighborhood infrastructure and creating new affordable housing opportunities for local families.

We were honored to be joined by state and county representatives, along with community partners, and project teams to celebrate this investment in the future of Florence.

August 22nd, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. completed wastewater system installation from Greenwood to Hemlock Street within the 11th Street right-of-way and also in Greenwood. The contractor located and terminated an unused sewer lateral in Greenwood Street toward the Elm Park Apartments complex.

The contractor removed the root mat from 11th Street west of Greenwood and began hauling in clean fill sand from the airport. Water was applied during placement of the sand for compaction. The sand is being used on both 11th Street and Greenwood’s northern extension.

August 15th, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. crews extended the wastewater main line from Greenwood to Hemlock Street within the 11th Street right-of-way. They also extended the line from the existing sewer manhole in Greenwood at 11th Street north to the new terminus in Greenwood Street.

Due to a change in grade on Fir Street and lower-than-expected subgrades for 11th and Greenwood Streets (about 18 inches lower on average), the project faces a 2,500–3,000 cubic yard sand deficit. To control costs, the contractor is allowed to source sand from the north end of the airport—a win-win that provides quick access to needed material now while removing sand that would have to be excavated for a future runway extension.

August 8th, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. crews potholed and exposed the existing 8-inch wastewater line stub in the Fir Street ROW at 9th Street. Groundwater was encountered about 6 inches above the sewer line.

Crews also cut 11th Street (Hemlock to Greenwood) to subgrade, installed erosion control fencing, and shaped slopes in the right-of-way.

August 1st, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. mulched vegetation within the 11th Street right-of-way between Hemlock and Greenwood Streets. After using their forestry mulcher, the crew removed trees and began clearing the root mat. While clearing the area, the contractor discovered an old spoils pile from when Greenwood was extended. Fortunately, after 25 years the material had decomposed into soil. The area remains soft, but with over-excavation, proper fill, and compaction, it will be suitable for the new roadway without future settlement issues.

July 25th, 2025

Ray Wells, Inc. continued hauling brush to the airport for mulching under our FloGro program and has been actively removing root mat in the 10th Street corridor (between Greenwood and Fir). They’ve also placed gravel for a temporary roadway and continued work around 11th and Fir Streets—carefully avoiding wetland and riparian areas in the northwest corner while state and federal fill permits are under review.

July 18th, 2025

Ray Wells Inc. has continued to clear and grub the new right-of-ways focusing on 10th Street and Fir Street this week. A portion of the planter strip in Greenwood Street was removed to provide a new driveway access to the Elm Park PUD.

July 11th, 2025

A preconstruction meeting was held on Wednesday, July 9th, with the contractor, RH2 Engineering, and Central Lincoln PUD. With Ray Wells, Inc. already mobilized nearby, they quickly began work. Crews mulched understory vegetation in the Fir Street right-of-way between 9th and 10th Streets. Although this portion of Fir Street will not be improved, it will house the sanitary sewer line serving the development and provide PUD access for power installation.

July 4th, 2025

The subcontractor for the developer, Ray Wells, Inc. has been busy using their forestry mower attachment to the track hoe to mow/mulch the undergrowth on the property. Once the undergrowth was mulched, the crews from Ray Wells, Inc. removed the trees. The tree limbs, stumps and larger wood waste will be taken to the airport to be mulched and used in our composting operations. According to the contractor, the trees have value and will be sent to a mill for lumber.

June 27th, 2025

Ray Wells has been on site clearing the private lots. Once they have the notice to proceed from the City they will start clearing City right-of-ways as well.