Recent Rain Delays Area Construction Projects

The last few years we were begging for rain. Now, many folks say enough is enough. It seems just about every day for weeks, we've seen rain or had a chain of getting showers. News On 6 anchor Craig

Tuesday, June 26th 2007, 10:22 am

By: News On 6

The last few years we were begging for rain. Now, many folks say enough is enough. It seems just about every day for weeks, we've seen rain or had a chain of getting showers. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports that means a slowdown for construction crews coping with the rain delays.

With the Hutcherson YMCA in north Tulsa under construction, crews are mostly limited to indoor work. Rainy weather will do that.

Constant rainy days always pose a challenge in the construction business. Clifford Lemons is the project superintendent.

"We're just swamped. Like I said, about the time we get dried out it rains again, so here we go," Lemons said.

Construction on the 58,000-square foot building is slightly behind because of the weather. Crews will work longer hours and more employees may be called in to finish the job by its November deadline.

"We're fortunate here of having somewhat of a roof on so we can start some interior work, but the rain has really slowed down construction on a lot of our projects," said Lemons.

It's the same case at construction sites all across Green Country. Whether it's highways, buildings, residential you name it, there's a good chance the rain is slowing it down.

So far this month, we've had 15 to 20 days of measurable rainfall in and around the city of Tulsa. That's about twice what we normally get for the entire month, and with about a week to go in June, rain is in the forecast just about every day.

"You go in, come to work, do what you can do and go on," said Lemons.

Lemons says construction crews will just have to plan ahead and should be able to make up lost time during the hot and dry dog days of summer in July and August.

Some construction superintendents on larger projects say it's been quite a year for wild weather. Not only are we now getting a lot of rain, some projects were already slowed down by our snow and ice earlier in the year.

Watch the video: Construction Projects Slow As Rain Builds