What to expect in the coming weeks 

EWEB crews have shifted focus to E. Broadway. Crews will be working concurrently on the north lanes and south lanes of the street, as well as crossing directly across the street. To cross E. Broadway at various points, contractor crews will use a boring machine to install sleeves for water services under the street or open trench excavation. The method used will depend on the size of the pipe that needs to be replaced. 

EWEB and contractor crews will continue to work at night in order to reduce traffic impacts for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. Work will typically begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude by 6:00 a.m., Sunday night through Friday morning. 

Estimated Timeframe 

June – September 2025 (Paving work may be completed in October)  

Traffic Impacts 

Road closures will be dynamic through the rest of the project, based on when crews need to cross E. Broadway with the boring machine or open trench excavation. Crews may keep certain lanes open, and full road closures of E. Broadway will be kept to a minimum. Signage and barricades will be placed in advance of closures, and detours will be provided.  

For everyone’s safety and to avoid project delays, please observe all posted traffic controls, parking restrictions, and detours. Cyclists and pedestrians should take extra care to follow traffic and closure signage. 



What it Takes to Replace Your Pipes 

Planned Water Shutoffs: Why They Are Necessary 

EWEB pipe replacement projects go through the same series of steps to ensure neighbors have clean, fresh water with minimal interruptions. The last step – switching over to the new pipes – requires water service to be shut off temporarily. Shutoffs will occur on a rolling basis during the “Test and Tie In” phase after crews have pressure tested and disinfected the pipes.  

When will Water Shutoffs Happen for this Project? 

The “Test and Tie In” phase will primarily happen during night work in the month of September. EWEB will reach out to impacted businesses and building managers in advance of planned shutoffs, with more specific details. We are anticipating each shutoff to last between 6 and 8 hours. If a shutoff lasts longer than 8 hours, it is likely that our crews have run into an issue and will continue working until the issue is resolved.  

We thank you in advance for your patience.  

Why are E. Broadway’s Pipes Being Replaced? 

Water pipelines are buried underground, crisscrossing Eugene and delivering water to 63,000 homes and businesses. Many of the pipelines were installed from the 1950s to the 1970s and are inching closer to the end of their useful lives. The pipes under E. Broadway are 77 years old! 

To parse out what pipes need to be replaced first, EWEB's engineers rely on an internal model that uses data – like material, age, and history of breakage – to pinpoint pipelines that are due for replacement. Additional context, such as scale of the project, funding, crew availability, and partnerships are factored in to determine which projects happen each year.  

With the City of Eugene’s “Broadway Paving and Sidewalks” project happening in 2025, EWEB was able to prioritize E. Broadway during the summer construction season.  

Coordination with the City of Eugene  

The E. Broadway project is in coordination with the City of Eugene’s “Broadway Paving and Sidewalks” project to repave, improve the pedestrian experience, and provide space for commercial deliveries. For the latest update on their paving project, head to their website. 

Project drawing by Annie Loe, Eugene Planning and Development 

Contact us with questions

If you have questions or input, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the project team at pipeline@eweb.org. Emails sent to this address will reach:

• Chris Irvin, Water Engineering Supervisor
• Ryan Nossaman, Engineering Tech and Project Manager
• Hanna Ashcraft, Communications Specialist