Pierre’s new outdoor pool will be built in two phases, and last night (June 29), the city commission approved the plan to bid the first phase –earthwork.
City staff engineer Nick Waters says that the project is fairly complex, necessitating a two-phased approach.
“We have challenging soils in Pierre which means we need to do a substantial amount of earthwork before the facility can start taking shape,” said Waters. “The soils experts will take care of that piece, then we’ll look for a contractor with the expertise needed to build the structures.”
Bid opening is scheduled for July 15; earthwork is expected to begin in August.
“The contractor will need to remove the expansive, fat clay that exists at the site and then bring in soil that is suitable for the new pool. Our goal is for the settlement from the new material to occur over the winter months,” said Waters. “That should provide the stable site needed for the new pool.”
Estimates indicate 15,000 yards of in-place soils will need to be excavated and replaced with more stable soil. In addition, about 20,000 yards of soil will be brought in to elevate the pool out of the water table.
“People can expect to see a really massive dirt pile while this work is going on,” said Pierre Mayor Steve Harding. “Once work is complete, the area will have a very different profile.”
The first project phase is scheduled for completion in 2021 with phase two, the pool package, starting in 2022.
“If the schedule stays on track, the construction of the structures will occur in 2022, but not be complete for next year’s swim season,” said Waters.
Mayor Harding pointed out that not opening until 2023 comes with some benefits.
“Our water treatment facility will be operational by then; that’ll strip the high-mineral content from our water and prevent staining of the new pool vessel and associated structures.”
For more information about the outdoor pool project, visit pierrepool.com.
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