Photos and story by Monty Siekerman
The $750,000 storm sewer project, mostly on campus, is due to be completed within a month. On Monday, a crane lifted a 10-ton section of a control structure (pictured) into a deep hole between a retention pond and Fraternity Circle.
Another 10-ton cement structure will sit atop this one. The structures are controlled by gravity to determine the water level in the retention pond.
The far West Campus area has been plagued by flooding for several years.
In fact, two years ago day-after-day deluges in Ada flooded the area significantly. Water on some sidewalks was waist deep. However, kids enjoyed splashing around in the not-made-for-swimming temporary lake. It took several weeks of pumping water to reduce the water level.
The damage and cost of pumping was expensive for ONU: to the tune of $1 million.
Throughout this summer, a large storm sewer was installed from behind Fraternity Circle, through the north side of the Tundra to Union Street, then north to Lincoln Avenue where it tied into a large pipe under Lincoln.
The university is paying most of the cost, but the Village is paying the engineering fee since the project also alleviates excess water along Klingler Road and Lima Avenue.
R D Jones Excavating of Harrod is general contractor for the project.
If major rains hold off for another month, the days of flooding between the stadium and Fraternity Circle will be over.
