During a severe storm event in January of 2012, a landslide destroyed part of Decker Road at milepost 3.5.  Historically, landslides and slumps have caused problems in this location.  On one occasion in the past, the road suffered catastrophic damage that required a major rebuilding project using traditional fill methods.  Even after the rebuilding project, mass movement required repeated attention by Benton County maintenance crews. 

A study was performed to review the general extent of the failure and the in-situ subsurface conditions.  At the same time, two monitoring wells were installed to document groundwater levels.  The repair option chosen was over-excavation of the slide area, lightweight extruded polystyrene foam backfill to reduce the weight of the road section, and reconstruction of the subgrade and road surface.

Prime Contractor:  Benton County Public Works
Prime Consultant:  Lane County Public Works-Engineering & Construction Services

The Spencer Butte summit is the highest point along Eugene's popular ridgeline open space system at 2,054 feet and has been a popular destination for generations of hikers.  In recent years, as many as 300 visitors per day make the trek to the summit, almost all using the Main Summit Trail. 

The City of Eugene along with volunteers has made substantial improvements to the lower portion of the trail over the last 12 years.  The trail project on the upper portion was the final, most critical, piece of the broader strategy to improve the entire length of the Main Summit Trail.  The objectives of the project were to improve accessibility, improve user safety, restore and protect habitat and provide an outstanding recreational resource.   

Prime Contractor:  Oregon Woods, Inc.
Prime Consultant:  Larry Wilson
Technical Consultant:  Northwest Trails, Inc.

With the completion of the WWTP Cogen Expansion Project, the City of Gresham WWTP has achieved its 5 year old goal of becoming energy net zero.  Using the biogas byproduct from anaerobic digesters to fuel cogeneration (cogen) engines, the plant now generates more electricity than it uses on an annual basis and has turned the City's biggest energy user into the City's biggest energy producer. 

The Gresham WWTP is a shining example of the new way of looking at wastewater treatment and blazing a trail to be emulated nationwide.  It's not just about treating waste, it's about recovering resources - in this case generating renewable energy worth over $500,000 annually. 

Prime Contractor:  JRT Mechanical, Inc.
Prime Consultant:  Carollo Engineers, Inc.
Equipment Supplier:  CAT (Caterpillar Inc.)

US20 crosses the Cascades Range and connects Central Oregon with the Willamette Valley's population centers.  Nearly 12,000 trucks and cars travel it daily through the tourism-based town of Sisters, Oregon where it serves as a major regional freight route and as a Downtown Main Street, known locally as Cascade Avenue. 

The Downtown suffered from narrow, aging sidewalks, substandard ADA ramps and deteriorating, unsafe curbs.  The pavement was failing and severely rutted with sinkholes.  ODOT partnered with the City of Sisters to completely rebuild the highway through downtown and create a beautifully landscaped, pedestrian friendly, and functional roadway for all users. 

Prime Contractor:  Knife River Corporation - Northwest
Prime Architect:  SERA Architects, Inc.
Prime Engineer:  Quincy Engineering, Incorporated
Landscape Architect:  GreenWorks, P.C.

Award Presentation (l-r): Ron Calkins, Michael Faha (GreenWorks), Russ Norton (Quincy Engineering), Chris Doan (Knife River), Jay Davenport (ODOT Region 4), Todd Walkins (Oregon APWA President)

The City of Newberg owns and operates the Newberg Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located at 2301 Wynooski Road.  Originally the plant began operations in 1987.  Since then, facilities were in need of repair, restoration, and expansion (RRE) to meet 2030's projected growth. 

The following areas that were identified as focal points in the improvement plan included the Influent Pump Station, Headworks Facility, Oxidation Ditches, Disinfection System, Sludge Dewatering, and Site Improvements.  These improvements fit within the recommendations of the 2007 Facilities Plan Update, which was approved by DEQ in 2009.  To accommodate funding ability, the project was designed and constructed in four separate phases. 

Prime Contractor:  Mortenson Construction
Prime Consultant:  HDR Engineering, Inc.