Storm Drain

Last week this area had a ton of rain, inches and inches of rain. All over the St. Louis area roads were flooded and homes and businesses took on water. It was a huge mess. The local news was all about the water issues in many parts of the area, but one place we didn't hear much about roads flooding was here in Collinsville. I got to wondering just why this was, very little flooding. And then as I looked out the front door I remembered the city spending a lot of time putting in new and larger storm drains beginning in around 2014. Before that big storms would cover streets in certain areas and the city decided to get to work on drain plans.

I remember over the years that our neighbors who lived in the first couple of houses on the street would get basement water with almost every rain. I spent a lot of time helping shop vac up much of it. The small storm drains back then could not hold the water which spilled out and ponded a large area. As I watched the huge rain last week I noticed the street was not ponding, the water was going down the drains perfectly and I'd guess this was the same over most of the city.

I gave kudos to the city for deciding to do this back in those years. Here are two photos I took back in 2014 when this work began. Dale and I took our dog for an after dinner walk and looked over all the new concrete drain work waiting to be put in on Vandalia.

Our street got a new, larger drain and the street department guys are very diligent about keeping it clear of leaves and debris.

Here is a look back at 2014, the beginning.

Comments

[Frank]

Diane, When IDOT Re-built Rt. 159, they almost did as much work on the storm drainage as they did on the road. It was a big benefit to Collinsville and the property near the Highway. I'm glad it is working. Go down the street and you will see all of the storm drains. It was estimated in the millions that they helped Collinsville. Ask the Street Dept managers.

[Diane Meyer]

There is no doubt that work helped Collinsville immensely.

[Frankl]

Thank my distant cousin Congressman Jay Hoffman. I think helped IDOT make the decision not to by-pass Collinsville, and go on the East side of town. A proposal was in the works to divert East near the Catsup bottle, work its way North to East Country Land and re-connect with Rt. 159 by the Interstate. Larry Trucano, Jay Hoffman, and the residents of Collinsville Township lobbied against it. Some were in favor because it would have opened up more land for subdivision development on the East side of the city. At least these are rumors that I heard.

[Diane Meyer]

I'm glad they didn't go east of town, we've have had a huge mess with the latest storms. As it is, the areas where residents live now don't have as much worry over big rains