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- Identifying Hazards and Making Repairs
Identifying Hazards and Making Repairs
Identifying Hazards
Eugene City Code 7.375 places sidewalk maintenance and liability on the abutting property owner. Sidewalks that have vertical offset of greater than ¼ inch, sunken or cracked panels, missing sections, or disintegration of surface cement are common examples of sidewalk hazards. Frequently, tree roots push up sections of sidewalk, causing tripping hazards. The City of Eugene Urban Forestry Department will address city owned tree/sidewalk conflict by taking site specific actions. This can include tree removal and shaving or pruning roots after panels are excavated. For detailed information about the specific standards used to evaluate sidewalk safety, contact the Public Works Maintenance Division at 541-682-4800.
Notifying Property Owners
If deficiencies are found, the City notifies the property owner(s) abutting the damaged section(s) of sidewalk by sending a Courtesy Letter of Required Maintenance, which details repair options.
Repair Options
If your sidewalk is deficient, you have several options for taking corrective action:
- Property owners can do the work themselves. This can involve panel replacement, grinding of high edges not taller than 1 inch, or making temporary patches that eliminate hazards. The City Sidewalk Inspector can provide more details upon request that fit individual property owner's needs.
- Property owners can hire a licensed contractor to do the repairs. Guidance for this option can be found by speaking with the Sidewalk Inspector at 541-682-4884.
- A permit is needed if repairs are larger than 30 square feet. Permit information can be found at the Eugene Permit and Information Center (99 W. 10th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401) or by calling 541-682-5086.
- At times, the City of Eugene Public Works Maintenance Division has availability to repair sidewalks. The City will bill the property owner if the work is done by a City crew. Please check with the Sidewalk Inspector regarding City crew availability by calling 541-682-4800 or emailing the Public Works Maintenance Division.
Repair work must be completed in a timely manner, generally 20 days. If the repairs are not completed in this time period, the City of Eugene may complete the work and bill the property owner.
Repair Examples
Grinding a minor vertical offset
Before and after images of a panel replacement
Example of sidewalk rerouted around tree roots
- View Public Works Maintenance FAQs
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- How do I report a dead animal in the street?
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The City will pick up dead animals in the City right-of-way (basically city streets, the area between the sidewalk and the curb, parks and bike paths). If the dead animal is located on private property the property owner is responsible for disposal. There are several businesses in the Eugene/Springfield area offering animal removal services.
Lane County Transfer will also accept dead animals for disposal. Some restrictions and requirements apply. Please contact Lane County Transfer at 541-682-4120 for information.
To request a dead animal be picked up, submit a request for service or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
- How do I report a broken or missing Traffic sign (not a street name sign)?
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To report a hazard that requires immediate attention, such as a missing "STOP," "DO NOT ENTER," "ONE WAY," OR "YIELD" sign, call 541-682-4800 Monday-Friday, between 9:00 m and 4:00 pm, or call 541-682-5111 outside of these hours.
For non-hazardous requests such as street/alley name sign down or missing, please go to our online Request for Service page and complete the form for Traffic Sign Maintenance Request.
- How can I get a street light replaced?
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We replace or fix street lights on City property, including parks and bike paths. The street light pole number (located on metal bracket on the pole) is helpful but not necessary. We do not replace or fix lights on private property (e.g., business parking lots).
To request a service for a street light, submit a request for service or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
- How do I report a pothole that needs to be filled?
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Public Works Maintenance fills potholes that are three inches or deeper as soon as possible. All others are repaired as time and staffing allow. We need as much information as possible (which side of the road, nearest intersection or street address etc.).
To report a pothole, submit a request for service or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
- Garbage or Debris in City Right-of-Way
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The City will remove garbage in the public right-of-way. Please be as specific as possible about the location (nearest street address or intersection and whether it is blocking the sidewalk or is in the lane of traffic) when making a request for service.
To request that debris or garbage in the City Right-of-Way be removed, please call Public Works Maintenance, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm at (541) 682-4800. For outside normal business hours, please call Eugene Police Non-emergency at (541) 682-5111, or call 9-1-1 if your request is an emergency.
- Call before you dig… 811
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The Oregon Utilities Coordinating Council asks you to “Dig Safely” by contacting them prior to digging to avoid injury from underground utilities. Before planting a tree, digging a ditch or preparing for other building types of activities, you need to call the utilities; this is the responsibility of the customer and not that of the City of Eugene or another governing body.
Call 811 to request that utilities be located on the property where you propose to dig several days prior to digging. You will need to provide information about the project you are planning, what type of work will be done and the affected local utilities. The City of Eugene’s Public Works Maintenance Division will be notified by the One Call Center. Within a few days, a locator will research the property and come to the site to make markings on the ground.
The color coded markings follow the national standard adopted by the American Public Works Association. For more information visit the Call Before You Dig website or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM. - Yellow Curb Request
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In Oregon, a curb painted yellow means no parking. No parking signs may also be posted to regulate parking along city streets. Street markings are determined using the standard from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Yellow curb painting generally takes place between the months of May and September. The process is weather-dependent, however, so those dates may be adjusted during unseasonably cold or wet conditions.
To report a fading yellow curb or request an area be designated for a yellow curb, call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
- How do I report a street name sign is missing?
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The City conducts an annual survey of traffic signs and develops a plan to replace missing or damaged signs. Street name signs are replaced when reported (see link below to report a missing sign online).
Missing or malfunctioning traffic signs and signals often relate more directly to creating hazardous conditions for the traveling public. To report a malfunctioning traffic signal or missing traffic sign, call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM during office hours, which are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or dial 9-1-1 after office hours, on evenings or weekends.
To report a missing street name sign, submit a Traffic Sign Maintenance Request or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
- Street Tree Maintenance
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Street trees are maintained by the Public Works, Parks and Open Space Division. Visit the Urban Forestry FAQs for more information about the City’s Street Tree program.
To report a problem with a street tree or request maintenance on a street tree, submit a request for service or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email POS.
- Vegetation Obstructions
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Overgrown vegetation that can create fire and traffic hazards and other vegetation obstructions into the right of way are generally not permitted, as set out in Eugene City Code. The City maintains a Nuisance Vegetation Program to deal with vegetation obstructions. This program is managed by the Code Compliance staff with Planning & Development.
To report a vegetation that is obstructing a driver’s view or that is obstructing the public right-of-way, submit a request for service or call Code Compliance at at 541-682-5819 or email Code Compliance.
- What is the Right-of-Way?
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When working in the public way or right-of-way, permission from the public agency is always needed. The right-of-way includes the entire area from curb to curb on paved streets, but also includes property beyond the curb. On streets with sidewalks, the planting strip between the curb and sidewalk, as well as the sidewalk area itself are also within the public right-of-way. In areas without sidewalks, the public right-of-way may extend several feet beyond the curb or end of road surfacing. To learn more about the public right-of-way on your property, use the Survey Location Book or you can contact Public Works Engineering at 541-682-5291 or email PWE.
The Public Works Maintenance staff provide a variety of services to the public regarding right-of-way. From sidewalks to street pole banners to locating underground utilities, the Permits and Right-of-Way staff can provide direction and assistance in navigating the necessary permits and applications.
For more information, call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800 or email PWM.
Contact Us
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Public Works Maintenance
1820 Roosevelt Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97402
Ph: 541-682-4800
Fx: 541-682-4882
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Sidewalk Inspections and Repairs
Eugene Public Works Maintenance
1820 Roosevelt Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97402
Ph: 541-682-4800
Constructing New Sidewalks
Eugene Public Works Engineering
244 E. Broadway
Eugene, OR 97401
Ph: 541-682-5560
Sidewalk Construction Permits
Eugene Permit and Information Center
99 W. 10th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
Ph: 541-682-5086