Residents in Opus Hall and Davis Square have become accustomed to detours, shaking walls and the sound of jackhammers from the road construction sites on 20th, Burt and Cuming Streets.

The City of Omaha’s sewer renewal project has impacted students differently and forced some students to change their daily routines.

Business junior and Davis Square resident Lara Klein, said the noise from construction sometimes distracts from studying or sleeping.

“When I’m trying to sleep or study, it seems like there’s a jackhammer in my room,” Klein said. “The construction goes on all day long, so I’ve learned to live with it.”

Klein said students can relocate to the library, but the library space is limited.

“There’s only so much room in the library and sometimes you just want to study in your room and not go outside,” Klein said.

Meredith Bookstaver, Business senior and Opus Hall resident, also notices the effects from the project.

“I’m not on the side of the building that is directly in front of the construction, but my room still shakes,” Bookstaver said.

“When I’m in my friend’s room, things actually fall off the walls sometimes from the construction.”

Bookstaver said parking spots are limited and getting to the parking garage on Cass Street takes longer because of the construction and detours.

“Instead of going straight on 20th, students have to go up on 24th, down Cass and down to 20th just to get to the parking garage,” Bookstaver said.

Tom Glow, Paving Manager for the City of Omaha Public Works, said the project is necessary for a more functional system.

The workers often need to block off sections of streets to complete their work, which limits the parking spots available for students living in Opus and Davis.

“The city’s current sewer system is old and needs to be fixed,” Glow said. “The problems associated with the old system needed repair, and the city is taking steps to fix it.”

Glow said he understands the frustrations of students living in the construction areas.

He said any project is going to have setbacks.

“Construction projects like the ones on Burt Street and Cuming Street are often drawn out and extensive. It may not seem like it, but work is being done,” Glow said.

“Since the project is almost done, students should remain patient with crews.”

The two-phased project, which began last spring, is part of a massive city-wide construction effort focused on rebuilding and rerouting the city’s old storm drain system.

Phase I of the project started last May and is scheduled to be completed this April. Once workers complete this phase, the streets around Opus and Davis should be more accessible to students.

Crews will begin work on the Phase II of the project, which deals with the sewer systems on Cuming Street between 20th and 27th Streets, after April.

Until recently, Omaha’s sewers drained into one system, which often caused backups and problems with piping.

After the entire project is finished, the sewage system around campus will be up-to-date and working more properly.