Replacement of deteriorating infrastructure has been a high priority for the City of Dell Rapids for many years, and in 2016 the City decided to take on a neighborhood reconstruction project that would be their largest yet. When it came to determining the area of town that needed the improvements the most, it did not take long for the answer to become clear. In the years prior, the City Public Works department had spent considerable time fixing water main breaks and sanitary sewer issues in an older neighborhood located in the southeast quadrant of town. DGR Engineering (DGR) assisted the City with their annual capital improvement planning process, which helped to identify the scope of the nearly 30 city block reconstruction project that would ultimately be referred to as the Southeast Infrastructure Improvements.

DGR worked closely with the City to develop the project design, and also provided construction administration and observation services. The project was constructed in multiple phases over a three-year period, which helped limit the impact to the residents in the area. Construction occurred under two separate contracts with the first phase commencing in 2019 and project completion occurring in 2022. The improvements included complete replacement of the sanitary sewer collection system, drinking water distribution system, storm drainage system, streets, and sidewalks within the limits of the project. The borings completed during the initial design indicated quartzite bedrock was less than 6 feet below the surface throughout much of the project area, with some areas having bedrock less than two feet below the surface. Rock blasting was needed to provide sufficient depth on the new water mains and adequate slope on the new sewer mains. More than 3,000 cubic yards of quartzite rock was excavated for the project. The rock blasting operations required greater communication than normal with the nearby residents and the natural gas company.

The project included other unique elements in addition to the rock blasting. There were over 1,800 feet of existing sanitary sewer and water mains that were installed in narrow alleys, and there was not enough space to replace and maintain both utilities in the alleys. Thus, the new water mains were installed in the street and new water services were directional drilled from the street to the backyards where the connections were made. The project also included replacement of a shallow box culvert that was built masonry style from quartzite rock. A new precast box culvert was installed across the street, which involved rock blasting followed by cast-in-place concrete transition sections on each end to tie into the existing masonry quartzite rock drainage channel.

New ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps were installed throughout the project to improve pedestrian travel. New streets were constructed with asphalt pavement in the residential areas and with concrete pavement along the truck route. All streets were constructed with concrete curb and gutter. Storm drainage in the area was greatly enhanced by improving the slopes of the streets and installing new storm drainage systems. Coordination with the local railroad entity was required for replacement of the existing sanitary sewer, water, and storm sewer utilities at four railroad crossings.

The project was financed by multiple funding sources. The City was awarded a $600,000 grant through the SDDOT’s Community Access Grant program for the improvements along the truck route. Most of the project funding was received through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs that are administered by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Both grant and loan funds were received through the SRF programs. The City also contributed local funds for a portion of the project costs.
DGR and the City of Dell Rapids have formed a strong working relationship over the last 30-plus years, which was key to the success of this project. DGR and the City emphasized coordination and communication with the 200-plus residents, property owners, business owners, and others affected by the project, from initial design concepts through final completion. This coordination and communication took place in many forms, including public open houses, various mailed letters, individual meetings, bi-weekly progress meetings and newsletters throughout construction. Replacing existing infrastructure in a developed residential neighborhood is challenging for all involved, but exceptional coordination and communication again proved to limit the difficulties in the process.

The Southeast Infrastructure Improvements project was an investment by the City of Dell Rapids into one of the older neighborhoods in town. The project revitalized the neighborhood by replacing dilapidated infrastructure with new, dependable infrastructure that will serve the community for many years to come.