Recent rains across the region have been a welcome relief amid ongoing drought conditions but the moisture has also slowed progress on long-awaited utility replacement work underway in Flandreau.
During a public update this past week, engineers with IMEG told residents that, weather permitting, sanitary sewer replacement work east of Prairie Street should be largely complete in the coming weeks. However, critical upgrades to aging water lines in the same area have been pushed back with such wet conditions this past week.
Despite the rain-related delays, city officials say the project is moving forward as expected with few to no unexpected challenges. Residents, several of whom continue to come to weekly meetings to receive updates in person, have had to adjust to torn-up streets, altered driveways, and rerouted access to their homes. Most however seem to be taking it in stride grateful for the improvements and understanding that the inconvenience is temporary.
Once the water main and service lines are replaced, crews will begin regrading the roads, pouring new concrete, and laying fresh pavement.
All sewer and water main work west of Prairie Street is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 31 of this year. Work east of Prairie is expected to wrap up by October 2026.
The next public update meeting is today, Wednesday, May 28, at noon.
Recent rains slow utility work in Flandreau
