A major sewage spill in North Portland has city crews scrambling and local roads closed, officials confirmed. The spill, stemming from a broken pressurized pipe beneath the N Columbia Boulevard overpass north of Lombard Street, caused an indeterminate amount of waste to flow into the Columbia Slough — a waterway now brimming with elevated bacteria levels, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services reported.

Traffic flow has been disrupted with N. Columbia Boulevard is sealed off from N Rivergate to N Burgard roads, and it's expected to remain that way into Friday morning, as workers labor to contain and assess the extensive damage caused by the spill, city authorities have alerted, that there are detours in place but drivers are encouraged to avoid the area if they can help it. In a statement released on the city's official website, the public is being told to steer clear of the Slough's contaminated waters, which pose health risks. Portland Bureau of Environmental Services advises city residents to heed warning signs and bypass the affected stretch.

The suspected rupture is at a nearby pump station that normally channels sewage to the city’s primary treatment facility. Teams are present on the ground to manage the situation and mitigate further environmental impact. According to the city bureau, although the cause of the spill is yet known in full, the ramifications are becoming increasingly apparent, as the investigation unfolds.

The incident has prompted a swift response from Environmental Services, which continues to work diligently to repair the broken pipe and staunch the flow of waste immediately, however, an official estimate for full resolution and road reopening has not been provided, signaling a potentially lengthy repair process. The city has pledged to keep the public updated as the emergency response evolves, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services underscored that they will continue to offer new information as the crew's examination of the breakage progresses.