From a SouthDaCola foot soldier;
I 229/26th Street/ Southeastern Drive Reconstruction Project
ABSENCE OF A NEEDED LIFT STATION
In order to begin this massive road and bridge project, Rotary-Norlin Park needed to be relocated from the east side of the river to the west side.
The majority of this work took place in 2018.
In conjunction with the Rotary Park Project the City needed to do underground work on the utilities (storm sewer, sewer, and water). The residents who live in the Riverdale subdivision (which is just across I 229 from Rotary Park) saw that utility work was being done last summer/fall in Riverdale Park. This is where the new utility lines were being connected to the existing lines.
At approximately the same time the work was being done in Riverdale Park, residents in Riverdale subdivision began to experience both low water pressure and sewer backups in their homes. In some homes, sewer backups have happened multiple times since last summer/fall.
Today, we finally may have an answer as to why this is happening.
The City probably should have invested in a lift station when the work was done last year.
THEY DID NOT, AND NOW PRIVATE CITIZENS ARE EXPERIENCING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DECISION.
After reviewing the documents related to the I 229/26th Street/Southeastern Drive Project on siouxfalls.org, it appears the elevation needed to construct the overpass for the BNSF railroad will also be a factor in this major blunder of not building a lift station.
Phase I of this Project is set to begin in a few days. Should the project be allowed to go forward before resolving the issue of the lift station? Good question.