What's an eyesore to some people is a minor inconvenience to others.
Construction has been going on since last fall on a storm sewer pumping station at 20th Street South and 11th Avenue South in Grand Forks. About a 10-foot trench takes up a half-block running east along the avenue.
Grand Forks Assistant City Engineer Mark Walker said the project is scheduled to be finished September 1.
"What really escalated the need for remodeling was a large metal manifold had rusted to the point that we felt it might rupture and cause water to back up into neighborhood basements," said Walker. "Not much remodeling work has been done on the station since it was first built in 1959."
The remodeling was contracted to four different companies.
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Industrial Contract Services did the general work at the start, McFarlane Sheet Metal did the mechanical repairs, Strata Corporation did the electrical work, and Molstad Excavating is laying the new underground storm sewer pipe.
The pavement will also have to be replaced. Neighborhood residents say it's been noisy at times, but not being able to turn south or north on 20th Street hasn't been too much of a bother.
Walker says the cost of the remodeling is $2.8 million, but the time the remodeling has taken will not cost the city extra.
"We do recognize that it's an inconvenience, especially to people living close by," said Walker. "It's a very big project. We definitely felt the work was needed."
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1262; (800) 477-6572, ext. 262; or send e-mail to jjohnson2@gfherald.com .
