Repairs to a Dickinson Community storm line began on October 30, and will keep students off both the co-rec field and Digman and Rafuse Hall sidewalks.

According to Karen Fennie, communications specialist at Physical Facilities, the storm water line, which is located nearly 30 feet below the ground, collapsed on October 29. A storm line is a pipe that drains rain water from streets and sidewalks to prevent flooding.

“Barricades were put up immediately and a contractor was on site fencing the area and bringing equipment the following day,” Fennie wrote in an e-mail.

The damaged line was removed and new piping will be installed in the next few days. The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined by the contractor.

Gabi Zweig, a sophomore majoring in biology, said she suggested that Rafuse keep its doors unlocked during the day to help students get around the construction more efficiently.

“There weren’t even signs,” Zweig said. “I saw people walking to the gate, having to turn around. I live in Dickinson so I was able to go through Rafuse. Some people couldn’t do that. They didn’t have keys.”

In addition to the storm line repair, a manhole also needed to be replaced. The repair on the manhole is planned to take place around Thanksgiving break, when the new parts are expected to arrive. Once all of the repairs are complete, the soil will be moved back into place and repacked.

“This is a fairly involved process that entails gradually returning the soil and compacting it as the excavation/hole is filled a section at a time,” Fennie wrote.

The project is expected to be complete by early December, before winter vacation. However, the cold weather may delay the process, since rain and snow can be detrimental to new soil. The co-rec field is likely to remain closed through the spring 2016 semester and for the rest of the academic year, but the effected sidewalks will be re-opened early next semester and available for use.

“There simply will not be enough time for a lawn or play field to be established with the climate we’re in,” Fennie said. “You might recall last year the weather didn’t really break until April. Even if we lucked out with March, it really does not allow enough time for anything substantial to get going.”

Contractors will also come in to complete miscellaneous electrical work, such as repairs to co-rec field lights, and replace the sidewalks and walls surrounding the field.

Additional work on a storm line leading toward Lake Lieberman, located behind Newing College, is expected to begin in the spring of 2016. At this point in time, Physical Facilities is still determining the scope of the project.

Joanna Lojo, a sophomore majoring in economics, said the noisy construction wakes her up in the mornings. In addition, the construction keeps her inside.

“We use the fields to meet up, throw frisbees and now we stick to the lounges,” she said. “You can’t even get to the swings.”

Louis Savastano, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, is frustrated with the inconvenient detours. This past week’s rain has also created a mess, he said.

“I live in O’Connor and it’s been really dirty,” he said. “There’s mud everywhere.”