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We are repairing the historic Thompson Elk Fountain and returning the iconic statue to its original location on SW Main Street.
 Notice anything missing?
This summer, crews removed the remaining fountain base pieces and began excavating the site to make room for the new fountain vault and plumbing. The vault will hold the fountain’s electrical and recirculating water pump underground. To prepare, crews must drill a tunnel to reach electrical lines at Chapman Square.
Expect loud noise near the construction site
Crews will be forming and pouring a new concrete foundation where the refurbished fountain will be installed. Expect noise from saws, excavators, dump trucks, concrete pump trucks, and generators. Use caution and follow all instructions when passing through the area.
And then we wait!
Once concrete is poured, it must harden and cure. During this step, activity near the project area may appear to slow down.
After the concrete cures and plumbing is installed, crews will bring the pieces of the granite fountain base to the project area and set them in place. These pieces include fountain steps, boulders, troughs, and the .
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Some parts of the fountain's stone base needed to be remade. To meet, the Portland Water Bureau sourced new granite pieces from the same quarry that supplied the original fountain base in Barre, Vermont.
 "Presented to the City of Portland by David P. Thompson A.D. 1900"
The quarry in Vermont used the original fountain base as a template to cut new slabs of granite to replace the damaged pieces. Then they shipped the granite slabs to a stone fabricating company in Cleveland, Ohio. The stone company in Cleveland sculpted the granite to match the original base, then shipped all the pieces back to Oregon.
The fountain base has returned home!
A few things need to happen before the granite fountain base can be installed. Crews will:
- pour a concrete foundation at the construction site and wait for it to cure.
- finish installing electrical, plumbing, and the fountain vault.
- dry fit the granite base and statue to make sure everything fits before bringing it to the construction site
For now, the granite is safe and sound at a storage facility in Tigard, Oregon.
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Road closure
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This project requires a road closure on SW Main Street from SW 3rd Avenue to SW 4th Avenue, between Lownsdale and Chapman Squares. Closures will last through winter 2025.
 Detour routes will change as work progresses. Traffic signs and flaggers will direct travelers around the closure areas. Use caution and follow all instructions when passing through the area. Stay alert and use caution as traffic may suddenly slow or stop.
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The City of Portland is committed to providing meaningful access. To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services, or to file a complaint of discrimination, contact 503-823-4000 (311), Relay Service & TTY: 711
Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 503-823-4000 (311), Relay: 711
This email was sent from an unmonitored inbox. Please do not reply. Instead, contact us at waterprojects@portlandoregon.gov.
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