Two widely traveled streets on the western side of the city will be undergoing major improvements in the near future after the Mitchell City Council approved the design phase of the project at Monday’s meeting.
Public Works Director Kyle Croce provided an in-depth overview of the street project, which would entail constructing new water mains and upgrading storm and sanitary sewer systems on a portion of West Fifth and West Ninth avenues in the city of Mitchell. The council’s unanimous approval for the design phase to begin calls for McLaury Engineering to complete the street project at a cost of around $159,000.
“The existing water main consists of outdated 4 inch cast iron and sand cast pipe. The existing sanitary sewer main consists of outdated vitrified clay pipe,” Croce said. “City utility crews also spend a significant amount of time repairing at these two locations, warranting the need for the reconstruction.”
The full scale of the work that will be done on West Fifth Avenue stretches from Sanborn Boulevard to Main Street, while the West Ninth Avenue project will stretch from Sanborn Boulevard to Lawler Street. The need for improvements at the two street locations were identified through the recent water distribution study and sanitary sewer study.
In addition, both streets will undergo surfacing improvements, Croce noted. Any ADA improvements that are needed at the intersections of the two streets will be completed as well.
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The design phase of the project will begin Jan. 1, 2021, and the city will open bids for companies to start construction in 2022.
Confluence, a Sioux Falls landscape consulting firm that was involved with the Corn Palace Plaza, will be a sub consultant for the street project.
As the city is eyeing to complete a future Main Street streetscape project, it will be incorporated in the West Fifth Avenue and Ninth Avenue improvement project.
North Foster lift station improvement project
The aging North Foster Street lift station will be undergoing upgrades following the Mitchell City Council's approval of the project on Monday.
The major upgrade to the lift station includes adding a new lining, and improving the manhole. Hydro-Klean, of Sioux Falls, will complete the $90,400 improvement project to the North Foster lift station.
According to Croce, the existing wet well is roughly 10 years old, and adding a new lining to the manhole in the lift station will extend the life of the structure. In addition, lining the manhole will reduce damage to the concrete that is caused by toxic gases.
The wet well will be installed with PVC liners. The city is providing a gravel base course for street crossings where temporary bypass pumping pipe crosses side streets, Croce noted.
