The City of Pierre is using new technology this week to replace the sewer line that runs under Buffalo Street.
The City is using “pipe bursting” to break apart the old sewer line while simultaneously replacing the line. To accommodate the work, starting today (Nov. 26), Buffalo Street will be closed to through traffic between Buchanan Avenue and Baja Drive. The work is expected to be complete and the road open to all traffic by mid-December.
City Utility director Brad Palmer says essentially, a slightly larger pipe is run through the existing pipe. This causes the old pipe to burst and crumble, and the new pipe to instantly replace it. He says other communities have used this process to avoid tearing up the streets and damaging slope stability, so Pierre is trying it out for the same reasons.
