The District is leading three sanitary sewer projects this spring and summer that will impact traffic in the University Ave. area of the near west side of Madison. These projects are crucial to ensuring the safe and reliable movement of wastewater to the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant.
All three projects are on the District’s West Interceptor, which serves the cities of Middleton and Madison, the Village of Shorewood Hills, and the Town of Westport. The West Interceptor is among the oldest pipes in the District’s collection system, dating back to 1916 with extensions to Middleton in 1932.
“One of the District’s greatest challenges right now is balancing aging infrastructure with the area’s immense growth,” says District Executive Director Eric Dundee, PE, ENV-SP. “Dane County is the fastest-growing county in Wisconsin. In some parts of our system, the pipes are either nearing the end of their useful life based on condition or undersized, and as a result, they are unable to accommodate additional growth. These projects on the West Interceptor demonstrate this challenge.”
three projectS In the University Ave. area
West Interceptor-Shorewood Boulevard
Starting about April 21, Marshall Court, north of University Avenue will be closed for approximately one week to install a new 30-inch sewer pipe. After the work in Marshal Court is complete, Shorewood Boulevard from north of the railroad tracks to Tally Ho Lane will be closed for approximately two weeks to complete additional work. The project began last fall and is planned to be completed by the end of May. View the project page
Shorewood-Segoe Rehabilitation
Beginning the week of April 28, District contractors will commence a sanitary sewer pipelining and maintenance hole rehabilitation project along and adjacent to University Avenue, from Segoe Road to Shorewood Boulevard. The project will be completed in phases, starting from the west and moving east. Most of the work will be conducted at night, with single-lane closures in effect during nighttime work hours. Most traffic lanes will be restored during daytime hours. This project will run from April through August. View the project page
Highland Ave. Sewer Project
This is a significant project that will require phased closure of on- and off-ramps at University Avenue/Campus Drive and Highland Avenue and will have significant traffic impacts and detours to UW Hospital & Clinics, VA Hospital, Forest Products Lab and others in the area. This is a major project, and more detailed information will be provided in early May and at each stage of the project. View the project page
“We recognize the impact these projects have on local residents, businesses and commuters,” says Dundee. “While the benefits may be unseen, reliable sanitary sewer infrastructure is critical to ensuring public health, safeguarding the environment, protecting homes and allowing the communities in our service area to thrive. The short-term inconvenience of construction will pay dividends for years to come.”
Information on all construction projects across the District’s collection system can be found at madsewer.org/construction. Interested residents and businesses can also sign up for project updates on individual project pages.
