PENDLETON — Pendleton Public Works Director Bob Patterson said the major infrastructure development the city needs for its massive housing project is underway.

The city is working to develop 250 acres for housing south of Interstate 84 between Exits 210 and 213 within its urban growth boundary.

Patterson said the Southeast 15th Street Extension project involves putting an 18-inch domestic water line from the future eastern pump station, which is breaking ground at this location. The city will connect the 18-inch line to a 12-inch water line on Highway 11.

That termination is close to the Exit 210, and it pretty much defines the eastern end of the project area.

Patterson said another part of the phase is to run a 30-inch water line from the high-level pump station at the water filtration plant campus back toward the same path of the new 18-inch line, but about two-thirds of the way from connecting to the termination near Exit 210 it will swing north to connect to the South Hill reservoir.

“This new 30-inch ductile iron pipe waterline replaces that 100 year-old water line,” he said.

Paterson said when phase 2 of the project gets underway, the project will extend Southeast 15th Street in a southeast direction, more or less, using Workforce Housing funds of $2.25 million, and connecting the street with the stretches of new road built to accompany the new water lines from the water filtration plant.

“The extension will go from the just-built South Hill Commons with 70 apartment units, provide two access points to the street, and connect to the future arterial road. Then we will pave the frontage of this first subdivision development to the first access point,” Patterson said.

There’s much more, though.

The Legislature approved $4 million to help build a road connecting highways 11 and 30 for the development. That work comes in the third phase, Patterson said.

“We still have to do sidewalks, curb and gutter, and address the storm runoff issues and build a detention facility,” he said. “All of that would be part of the initial design using the $4 million to finish and then pave that whole length back.”

He said what’s left of the $4 million could be used to help design the section down to at least the connector road.

Phase four continues construction of the East End Connector Road, using any of the $4 million that remain.

Phase five constructs the Southeast 11th Street and new sewer line using any remaining state appropriation funds, recouped reimbursement funds and/or sewer funds.

Phase six constructs the lower portion of East End Connector Road/Goad Road using $1.5 million in federal dollars. The project will need to meet federal standards, which may track those of the Oregon Department of Transportation, Patterson said.

When complete, the entire new west to east roadway stretch appears to be a bit less than 1.25 miles.

Patterson said the city council at its meeting April 16 gave the OK to start the engineering wok and to select a consultant. He said the design and permitting may take up to three years.