City Protects Electric Equipment with Guardrails

City Protects Electric Equipment with Guardrails

The city is moving forward with its plans to protect electrical infrastructure along Fourth Street in northern Pierre.

At this week's meeting, the City Commission approved a contract with Hilt Construction, a Rapid City Company, to install guardrails around two different electric transmission poles and in front of an electrical switch.

Nick Waters, City Engineer, says that the equipment is large, expensive and electrified.

"Protecting this equipment also helps protect motorists," said Waters. "Damage to any of these pieces of equipment can expose live wires; there's an added degree of danger when electrical infrastructure is part of the equation."

Hilt Construction provided the lowest quote at $64,100.

This is the second time the city has made an attempt to protect the infrastructure along Fourth Street. In 2024, the project was put out for bid; the commission rejected the bids because they were too high.

"We moved some of the prep work in-house for this project and then put it back out there," said Waters. "This round of quotes was much more competitive and fit within the project budget."

The city expects project work to begin as early as next week.