For many, the rains coming down in the Bismarck-Mandan area are a blessing, for others not so much.

Strata Corp. is reconstructing Collins Avenue, but Wednesday, the only work taking place on the multimillion dollar project were the pumps attempting to keep the area north of First Street clear of pooling rain water, according to Strata spokesman Ron Reiswig.

"All the water keeps coming down the hill, and we keep pumping it out," Reiswig said.

"We're definitely in need of some sunshine. A couple of days of dry, sunny weather and some light winds will dry things up."

With nearly an inch of rain coming down early Saturday, the water rushing down Collins managed to infiltrate an abandoned sanitary sewer pipe, which runs under the water main trench dug on Collins.

The water had such force that it made its way into the operating sanitary sewer system, sending 3 to 4 inches of mud into the basements of several homes in the 300 and 400 blocks adjacent Collins.

"That wasn't a pretty sight," Reiswig said. "We're aware of about 13 homes that had problems."

Collins is particularly problematic when it comes to rains because of how steep it is and the large drainage basin it serves, according to city engineer Tom Little.

"We've had some rough, rugged storms in the past and have found it comes down the street really hard," Little said. "With the old pavement and patches on Collins, well ,that kind of rushing water peels it right up."

Reiswig said that all of the streets that feed Collins, from Division on down, drain into Collins and there is no way to divert the flow to a side street.

But Reiswig said that the problems associated with last Saturday's rains and subsequent sewer back up have been "cured" and won't happen again.

Plans are to have Collins from Main Street to First Street usable by the time Buggies-n-Blues takes place June 9-10.

"It might not be totally complete, but it will be usable," Reiswig said. "Strata is well aware of what Buggies-n-Blues means for Mandan."

The recent rains have set the Collins project back about a week in the short term, Reiswig said.

But the long-term schedule, including completion by Sept. 1, is still intact.

"We knew the rain could be a problem, but we really didn't anticipate this kind of rain at this time of year," Reiswig said.

"People have been super patient because the work has been a real inconvenience to them, but they're still able to get around."

Collins is a major street in Mandan, Little said, and because of that there is a lot of pressure on the contractor to keep moving, rain or no rain.

"The street effects so many people, so there is a lot of interest to get it done as soon as possible," Little said.

Once the work moves up the hill, the rains won't be as much of a problem, according to Reiswig, because the new storm sewer will help control the flow.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)