Portland, Oregon, has been cleared to resume construction of a $2.1 billion water treatment plant, after a nearly five-month shutdown due to a legal fight waged by neighbors opposed to the project, according to a June 25 news release from the Portland Water Bureau.

The Bull Run Filtration Project broke ground in June 2024 but was thrown into limbo in January when the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals overruled Multnomah County’s earlier environmental approval and asked it to reevaluate its decision, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Construction has been paused since Feb. 14.

Area residents and businesses sued to get the state to stop the project on the grounds that it would negatively impact natural resources, June 23 Multnomah County land-use board documents show. However, the hearing officer disagreed with their interpretation and reapproved the earlier land use approval.