JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – An urgent stormwater pipe replacement in southwest Jamestown is set to begin in the middle of September according to City Engineer Travis Dillman.

Dillman gave an update on the plan at a special informational briefing at City Hall on Tuesday evening.

The 96-inch stormwater pipe is located south of 25th Street Southwest and east of 8th Avenue Southwest. The failure of the pipe caused a 12 to 14-foot sinkhole to form.

Dillman said the work will cause a significant detour in a high-traffic area of the city.

Dillman said the city will be putting down a chloride treatment for the gravel on the detour route to help alleviate the dust that would occur because of the increased traffic.

The main contractor of the project will be CC Steel of Fargo, with the subcontractor being Naasted Brothers of Hatton.

Dillman said with two contractors it may speed things up.

The City Council approved a resolution on May 5th, supporting an extension of the state of emergency initially declared by Mayor Dwaine Heinrich. The emergency was prompted by a malfunctioning stormwater pipe near Applebee’s. Although Mayor Heinrich had initially stated a seven-day timeframe for the emergency on May 15th, the council’s decision has led to an extended duration.