Progress being made on fire stations

By Kara Hansen

The West Linn Tidings, Aug 20, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

VERN UYETAKE / West Linn Tidings

The foundation was recently poured for TVF&R’s Willamette station.

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Construction of two new fire stations in West Linn is moving along with work in Willamette setting the pace for other projects in the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue district.

The district began building three new stations in its nine-city, multi-county service area this summer, including the two in West Linn and another near Washington Square.

Bundling the three projects saved $1.2 million, which ultimately will translate into savings for taxpayers, TVF&R spokeswoman Cassandra Ulven said.

CSI Construction of Oregon, part of Colorado Structures Inc., delivered the winning $7 million bid, which includes $2.2 million for West Linn’s Bolton station and $2.5 million for the Willamette station.

The new buildings are expected to bring TVF&R’s emergency services into the 21st century, meeting not only modern seismic and accessibility codes but also high sustainability standards. Architects are aiming for the gold level of LEED certification, a label for construction leaders in energy and environmental design.

Both new stations in West Linn will replace old buildings and include community meeting spaces.

They were financed through a bond measure voters approved in 2006.

Ulven provided a written update of progress in West Linn, where the new Willamette station is scheduled for completion in February 2010. Bolton is set to finish a couple of months later.

The old Willamette station has been demolished, and a new building is being erected in its place on the north side of Willamette Falls Drive. Meanwhile, fire crews are operating out of a nearby residential property.

As of this month, the new building’s foundation was complete and crews were constructing the walls, assembling them on the ground and then hoisting them into position with a heavy-duty crane. Ulven expected work on the station’s second floor to begin soon.

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