A months-long construction project to upgrade a gravity collection mainline sewer that will service the anticipated Territory 1889 development in Lakeside is set to begin next month.  

The project will increase capacity for Lakeside County Water and Sewer District by increasing the size of and replacing sections of the existing mainline along U.S. 93. 

The work could impact traffic through downtown Lakeside, according to a press release from the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District. 

Swank Enterprises was awarded the $4.2 million contract for the project while Discovery Land Company, the Arizona-based global luxury developer behind Territory 1889, is financing 100% of the construction, according to the project team. Lakeside Water and Sewer District retains control over the design and implementation of the project.  

Construction will take place along the west side of U.S. 93 from Blacktail Road to Bierney Creek Road during daylight hours on weekdays only, typically from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Traffic may be reduced to one lane at times, but U.S. 93 will remain open throughout the project's construction, which is expected to wrap up in November. 

"Lakeside businesses will still be open,” said the district's General Manager Rodney Olson. “The contractor will provide access to businesses as work moves along the highway." 

Lakeside's wastewater collection and treatment facility was originally built in 1987, and after four decades and significant growth, portions of the system need to be replaced. 

The luxury Territory 1889 development, with more than 350 homes and a golf course south of Lakeside, has expedited the need to expand capacity. The development plans to connect to the district's wastewater system. 

In March 2025, the district entered into a Wastewater and Water Service Agreement with Discovery Land Company. According to the district, Discovery Land Company is responsible for all costs associated with the design and construction of the wastewater collection system upgrades. 

The mainline sewer upgrade is the first of many projects that will be paid for by Discovery Land Company. Planned improvements include enlarging key gravity sewer mains, increasing force main capacity and replacing three existing lift stations. The system will also be expanded to the south.  

"We are thankful for Territory 1889's funding because that means it's not cost prohibitive for the district," Olson said. "It's not an expense that we have to pass on to our ratepayers, but we will still get to update our system and make it significantly more reliable for future growth." 

The portion of the mainline sewer that is being upgraded serves all of Lakeside and everything to the south of Lakeside. New 12-inch and 15-inch gravity sewer mainlines will be installed, while manholes will be replaced and added. Sections of pavement will be removed for the work and then resurfaced, with a chip seal applied on the replaced pavement in early 2027. 

More information and updates about Lakeside's wastewater collection system upgrades can be found at rpa-eng.com/ongoing-projects/lcwsd-collections/#lcwsd-gcmr 

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

    Traffic passes through Lakeside along U.S. 93 on Tuesday, May 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)