Construction crews began tunneling under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at 5th Street and Fort Riley Boulevard to install a new 66-inch diameter concrete storm sewer pipe. The City noted that it is the first major step in a $6.38 million project to improve storm sewer drainage in downtown Manhattan and the neighborhoods south of Poyntz Avenue.
The tuneling work will continue through this week. A horizontal drilling machine is being used to cut beneath the tracks and gradually push the pipe into place.
The work is part of the larger Poyntz avenue - 6th Street storm sewer improvement which includes a major storm water pipe to run up 6th street from Fort Riley Boulevard to Poyntz Avenue, and then in the street along Poyntz Avenue to 9th Street, with smaller storm lines and inlets extending into adjacent blocks to gather water from neighborhoods.