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The Portland City Council on Wednesday passed an ordinance that authorizes solicitation of bids for construction of the .

The work will extend sewer infrastructure into the area. Commissioner Mingus Mapps stated in a previous council meeting that the improvements will serve properties that do not have direct sewer line access.

鈥淢any of these nonconforming sewers are aging,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome are failing.鈥�

By providing direct sewer service to these properties, this project will reduce the risk of broken pipes and sewage releases on both public and private property, Mapps added.

Sanitary sewer extensions need to be built in the Sellwood neighborhood to resolve the nonconforming sewer status of properties that do not currently have direct access, according to the Bureau of Environmental Services. The project will involve construction of approximately 7,200 lineal feet of new mainline sanitary sewer pipe and up to 153 individual property sewer laterals, said Melanie Gualotunia, program manager for BES鈥� nonconforming sewer program.

BES has prepared plans for work, including installation of manholes and service laterals. The project is estimated to cost $7.4 million.

The project area includes residences and businesses in the Sellwood-Moreland, Sellwood-Tacoma and Sellwood-Westmoreland neighborhoods.

Nonconforming properties are required to connect within 180 days of notice of project completion. Property owners must pay or finance the sewer conversion charges before connecting. For a typical residential property, the sewer conversion charge is $8,299 and increases each July 1, according to BES. BES offers a financial assistance program, Gualotunia said.

鈥淐ommercial properties 鈥� there are a few of them in this project 鈥� they get charged differently,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 dependent on the size of the property.鈥�

BES hopes to advertise for construction bids this summer.

The work is scheduled to begin in September and expected to take two years to complete.