Drainage not complete for Second Street

When Second Street opens to both eastbound and westbound traffic at the end of this year, motorists should notice a smooth ride and the benefits of a center turning lane -- but what won't be readily apparent is quick drainage after a heavy rain.

That's because the improved drainage designed as part of the project hasn't yet been built. It's a project the city of Grand Island was initially to complete in 2007 with the construction of the Wasmer detention cell. That cell encompasses a full city block bordered by Broadwell Avenue, Division Street, Monroe and Koenig streets and is to hold water until it can slowly be released into the city's storm water system.

Design plans were an initial setback and the city then planned to build the drainage cell simultaneously this spring as the Second Street widening project got under way in March.

But the 2008 construction of the Wasmer detention cell didn't happen, either.

"Environmental and utility conflicts pushed the project back," said Public Works Director Steve Riehle.

When city officials realized they couldn't get the water detention cell done this year, they worked with state officials to redesign the project. Those modified plans are awaiting state review now.

In the meantime, Second Street construction couldn't stop -- so the state was forced to tie the new storm inlets on Second Street into the existing city storm water system.

"It's going to be inefficient like it was before," said state project manager Scott Griepenstroh. "It's going to back up and flood the street."

That flooding will be the worst between Logan and Monroe, Griepenstroh said.

But the flooding shouldn't damage the new roadway. That's because the new street has contours that will help keep the water draining away -- even though the existing storm water system is undersized and will mean a slow draining away.

"Second Street will drain better with better slopes, more inlets and larger pipe this year," Riehle said. "After completion of the Wasmer project, the street will drain even better with the increased pipes to the Wasmer detention cell."

Riehle estimated the $872,000 Wasmer detention cell will be constructed in spring 2009.