Storm sewer work continues on Highway 85 project

DEADWOOD With no immediate major threats to traffic flow along the Highway 85 corridor in Deadwood, construction crews continue to work their way back toward Highway 85 from Whitewood Creek in the latest storm sewer outfall and retaining wall project on Cemetery Street, with a projected completion date of Feb. 10. But come April, Phase II of the project will begin in earnest, bringing with it corresponding traffic delays.

Work on the current outfall requires a complete closure of Cemetery Street from Highway 85 to Whitewood Creek (what appears to be an alleyway next to the former ReMax building), as crews work to ultimately install a larger storm sewer pipe, beginning at the creek and laying pipe from the creek back to the road. All of this work is being done in preparation for the highway project, before they start tearing up road this spring, said Deadwood Public Works Director Ron Green.

When the two storm sewer outfalls are complete and new pipe installed, contractors will simply tie them into the new pipe running along the highway.

A power pole on Water Street, currently being bolstered by a Black Hills Power truck, is right in the way of constructions path, with crews carefully digging around it and the truck in place to hold the pole upright.

A unique situation for all involved, because the pole is in the DOT right of way with no real way of moving it or relocating the outlet; by state statute (SDCL 31-26-23) the DOT is not required to reimburse a utility company or the contractor for incurred costs.

Thus, the contractor and Black Hills Power & Light worked out a solution.

Ken Meirose of Black Hills Power & Light, in attendance at the weekly public meeting regarding the Highway 85 project, said that normally Black Hills Power & Light allows for the first three days to be free, with $500 per day charged after that for a sitting truck.

How about we do things the old-fashioned way? You tell me youll do the work as fast as you can and you can leave the truck there if you tell me youll get it done as quick as possible and we wont dicker about the price, Meirose said.

Jim Wilcox of Oftedal Construction said that they would, even if it entails working Saturday.

I would like to thank the utility and the contractor for working this out, said Green.

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Storm sewer work continues on Highway 85 project