Submitted Photo A construction crew begins erecting pre-cast concrete wall panels for the new Perkett Ditch Pump station Monday.

As work continues on Phase MI-2 of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project, a major milestone for the Perkett Ditch Pump Station will be reached this week.

On Monday, crews began to place the pre-cast concrete wall panels for the new Perkett Ditch Pump Station near the intersection of Seventh Avenue Southwest and 21st Street Southwest. The foundation work was completed over the summer, allowing the walls to be set before winter settles in. Crews are anticipating the wall placement work to be completed within a few days. Once the walls are set, work will begin on the placement of the roof. Construction on the interior portions of the building will continue throughout the winter months.

The Perkett Ditch Pump Station is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2019.

The Perkett Ditch Pump Station is responsible for removing interior drainage from northwest Minot that occurs on the dry side of levee and transferring that water into the Souris River. During low water conditions a series of box culverts and gates will allow for the ditch system to be drained via gravity flow. However, during periods of high flow in the river, the pump station will be utilized to pump stormwater from the dry side of the levee into the river

The pump station features three 250 HP pumps and will be capable of pumping 45,000 gallons per minute at maximum capacity.