The Daily Dispatch

An Oct. 5 bid opening has been scheduled for the first in a series of drainage improvements on the south side of Wahpeton, according to Randy Nelson, public works director, who briefed the Public Works and Safety Committee Monday on the project's progress.

"The hope is it's a good, simple bid tabulation that we can take back to council for award on the fifth, that first meeting of October," Nelson said. If the bid opening goes as planned, a notice to proceed with construction could be issued by Oct. 26.

The project being bid is labeled Phase 'A' Part No.1 and involves the installation of a 36 inch pipe down to a 48 inch pipe on the south side of 11th Avenue South, from Sixth Street South to Center Street.

"It'll tie into an existing pipe that's been brought across 11th Avenue with the stage two [levee] project," Nelson said.

If a concrete pipe was used for the first part of phase one construction costs could exceed $585,000. When factoring in construction engineering, interest and administration costs, the total project amount would be approximately $714,000.

"We're also looking at an alternative that would use a different pipe material in that ditch and that would be high density [insulate] polyethylene," Nelson said. "With that it's possible, based on the numbers, you could be seeing somewhere closer to $475,000."

Phase 'A' Part No. 2 will involve running pipeline up Sixth Street South to Fourth Street South and from there approximately three-quarters of the way down Eighth Avenue South.

Officials working on part two of phase 'A' are still seeking out completion of the final alignment for Sixth Street improvements, which is difficult due to crowding of utilities in the right of way, said Nelson. Because the area is tight with fiber optics, an easement on the backside of power poles would be the cheapest way to run the pipeline.

"Another alternative we're contemplating there is to investigate the acquiring of an easement on the fronting properties," Nelson said.

On the east side of Sixth Street, the drainage improvements will affect a number of driveways and trees. If the west side is occupied by contractors, at least one utility company will have to then operate on the east side of the right of way.

Once the alignment is set for Phase 'A' Part No. 2, a bid letting could be scheduled, which could be as soon as this winter, Nelson said.

The city first began to address drainage and flooding issues on the south side after a heavy rainstorm in August 2008. By November, officials were asking residents for input on how to best build a storm sewer system capable of holding large amounts of water and prioritize the necessary improvements.

Drafts of the drainage basin plan began to surface during the spring months, while officials have not yet discussed cost and funding sources with south side residents.

The city public works department is planning to schedule a public input meeting in the near future for residents and project managers to discuss the assessment process.

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