This year, the City of Portland will start work to replace the radio transmission tower at Council Crest Park. The new tower will be nearly the same height as the existing tower and will be erected right next to it. After construction, the old tower will come down and the materials will be recycled. Construction is scheduled to begin in early September 2008 and be completed by Nov. 1, 2009. The Council Crest tower performs a critical function as one of the city’s main transmitters of public safety radio communications for the police, firefighters, and other public safety personnel.
The city originally planned to paint the existing tower but, during inspection, engineers discovered deterioration. They also determined that the existing tower is overloaded with equipment and is not up to standards. Engineers did consider using the existing Stonehenge (KGON) tower or other large FM towers to carry public safety radio communications, but those towers generate broadband radio noise that would interfere with communications. Ultimately, the city concluded it would be safer and more cost-effective to simply replace the tower. A recent land use review approved tower replacement.
The overall plan is to build a new tower adjacent to the existing one, install all new infrastructure on it (antennas, cables and microwave dishes), and then, after the new tower is fully functioning, remove the old tower. Due to contract delays earlier this year, the city will only be installing the first 165 feet of the new tower this year. This will minimize the impact of the work on the loop road and trails within the park.
Installation of the upper section of the tower is planned for spring and summer of 2009. A large crane will be needed and the park will be impacted. For some of this phase, trails through the park as well as the loop road will be closed to the public for safety reasons.
The new tower will look similar to the existing tower, but will have a different foundation. Each of the tower legs will be six feet in diameter and be set approximately 40 feet deep or down to bedrock, whichever comes first. The new tower will be 442 feet high, excluding the antenna on top, almost identical to the height of the existing tower.
The city’s Bureau of Technical Services (BTS) is managing this project. BTS has hired Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) on contract to help with public involvement and information. There will be an open house, on Thursday, September 11, starting at 7 pm, at Ainsworth School, 2425 SW Vista.
SWNI and BTS want the public to have complete and current information about the project. Look for regular updates in this newspaper about the project. There is also information on the city’s website at www.portlandonline.com/omf/councilcrest. For trails and traffic information, call 503-823-1989. SWNI is hoping to develop an email list to get quick notices out on immediately impending work that may affect nearby neighbors. There will also be advisory signage on approaches to the site. Good communication, minimizing problems for the public, safety, and security for all are the goals of SWNI and BTS.
If you have questions or would like more information, contact Leonard Gard at SWNI. Give Leonard your email address if you would like quick notices by email.
Phone: 503-823-4592
Email: leonard@swni.org
Address:
SWNI
Multnomah Center
7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219
Location
- Ainsworth School
- 2425 SW Vista
- Portland