SPEARFISH, S.D. – A major underground obstacle has added an unexpected expense to a sewer improvement project in Spearfish.
City officials say crews working on the Colorado Boulevard Sanitary Sewer Upsize Project discovered a large triple-barrel box culvert that was not identified in project plans. The structure is significantly larger than expected and requires a different construction approach.
Public Works Director Adam McMahon says the contractor will need to install a steel casing pipe beneath the culvert using a jack-and-bore method to continue the project.
The additional work is expected to cost about $125,000. However, city officials say the project budget was set at $2 million and the contract was awarded for $1.7 million, leaving funds available to cover change orders.
The Spearfish City Council authorized staff to move forward with the workaround to avoid delays. A formal change order is expected to be presented at the council’s regular meeting on September 8.
