Streets and Utilities Extension Project

Upcoming Meetings

No upcoming community meetings are scheduled.

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Active Construction Areas

Riverfront Property: Underground utility work, pump station, Bluff Trail, Tualatin Street intersection, construction staging site, Cowlitz Street turnaround

South 1st & St. Helens Street Intersection: Underground utility work

Riverfront District sidewalks: Utility prep work happening along sidewalks

Columbia View Park viewing deck: Park remains open for use. Viewing deck and parking stalls immediately adjacent to viewing deck are closed.

Strand and Cowlitz Streets: Joint utility trench work, forms, subgrade, and concrete work actively occuring. Strand Street is fully closed for improvements.

Detours and Closures

The Nob Hill Nature Park staircase from the Riverfront Property to the eastern entrance of the park is currently closed. The park is still accessible from the entrances at Plymouth Street and South 3rd Street.

Strand Street to vehicle traffic for improvements. Pedestrian access to businesses and residences is open.

A portion of the Riverfront Property is closed for use as a construction staging site and for underground utility work. The riverside of the property is still open to pedestrians for walking. View the staging map to see accessible pedestrian areas (also available to view at the bottom of this page under the documents section).

Businesses During Construction

St. Helens Riverfront District businesses are open and accessible during construction. We encourage you to continue to shop local. Learn more on our Businesses During Construction page.

Project Summary

The City of St. Helens launched the Streets and Utilities Extension Project in March 2021.

The project is focused on improving key streets and intersections that already exist in the city’s historic Riverfront District and extending utilities onto the City’s 24-acre Riverfront Property. The project, which was launched in 2021, will set the groundwork for future public amenities and private development on the Riverfront Property. The City is interested in partnering with private developers who can build a mix of commercial and residential uses on the site.

The Streets and Utilities Extension Project will improve the safety of existing intersections, create inviting pedestrian connections in the Riverfront District, and increase parking in the area.

Construction efforts will first be focused on the South 1^st Street and St. Helens Street intersection. This intersection serves as a gateway to the city’s historic Riverfront District, welcoming residents and visitors to local businesses, government buildings, and the sites of major community events. The intersection’s new design will improve traffic flow, create safer pedestrian crossings, and install benches and other amenities. A larger version of the intersection design pictured here can be found below under the supporting documents section.

In addition to the South 1^st Street and St. Helens Street intersection, the Streets and Utilities Extension Project will also:

Redesign South 1^st Street and Cowlitz Street intersection
Extend Cowlitz Street onto the Riverfront Property with a turnaround feature which will connect seamlessly to the upcoming Riverwalk Project and Columbia View Park improvements scheduled to begin later in 2023
Redesign Strand Street to improve traffic safety and create a plaza above Columbia View Park which will serve as a vendor space for events such as 13 Nights on the River
Extend South 1^st Street to the Tualatin Street stairs and create a pedestrian-friendly intersection which will serve as a trailhead for a bluff trail
Create a bluff trail along the west side of the Riverfront Property that extends from South 1^st Street to Nob Hill Nature Park and Plymouth Street
Extend underground utilities through the Riverfront Property to prepare the site for solicitation of a private development partner(s)
Fill in gaps in existing sidewalks and create landscaping

The Streets and Utilities Extension Project is anticipated to take two years to complete. Construction will take place in a phased approach over the two years to allow for street detours and to minimize construction impacts to area residents and local businesses.

Otak, Inc. is the City’s project engineer and Mayer/Reed, Inc. is the City’s landscape architect for the project. The construction contractor is Moore Excavation, Inc. This project is only focused on public infrastructure and does not include any private development component.

The Streets and Utilities Extension Project is one component of the City's Riverfront Project. The Riverfront Project is made up of the Streets and Utilities Extension Project and Riverwalk Project. Phase I of the Riverwalk Project is expected to break ground in 2024. Phase I will expand Columbia View Park onto the Riverfront Property and construct the first phase of a public walkway and boardwalk along the edge of the Columbia River.

The Riverfront Project is a part of the City's overall Waterfront Redevelopment Project efforts.

Stay Informed

The City of St. Helens has launched a Waterfront Redevelopment Newsletter to keep community members informed about project information, construction impacts, and timelines. Subscribe to the newsletter here.