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Construction update 6/12/2025
Construction is underway
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 work is complete.
- Phase 3 work is complete with the exception of lateral connection sealing and touch-up work needed in MH02-054A. This work will take place at a later date—TBD.
- Phase 4 on University Avenue will begin on the evening of Thursday, June 12. This work will take place at night between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Work for the week of June 9
Phase 4 cleaning and televising and Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) installation is scheduled to occur this week on Thursday, June 12. Work will take place at night between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. During this time, the following traffic changes are anticipated:
- Work will close the center vehicle westbound lane in the 3600 and 3700 blocks of University Avenue.
- Work will close the thru traffic from N. Midvale Boulevard to Rose Place.
- Work will close the left vehicle turn lanes on:
- University Avenue to Rose Place
- University Avenue to Highbury Road
- Highbury Road to University Avenue
- Rose Place to University Avenue
- Work will require a work zone at Highbury Road in the southbound lane east of Noodles & Company. This may encroach upon the Noodles & Company driveway Highbury Road entrance. Both driveways of Noodles & Company are anticipated to remain open during this time period.
- Work will necessitate closure of a driveway entrance to Walgreens and Steve's Liquor. Each business will maintain an open entrance during that time period.
- It is expected the work zone will require vehicles to encroach upon with westbound bike lane.
- A pedestrian detour will be in effect: the north/south crossing of University Avenue on the east side of Midvale Boulevard will be closed. See the detour map.
During this time, the contractor may coordinate with the adjacent businesses to dye test select business laterals. This involves coordinating a time between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. for building access to flush a small amount of sewer-safe dye down the toilet. Anticipated businesses for dye testing include: Walgreens, Steve's Liquor and Noodles & Company. The contractor will reach out directly to arrange this work.
Work for the week of June 16
Phase 4 Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) installation and lateral grouting is scheduled to occur this week. Work will take place at night between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. During this time, the following traffic changes are anticipated:
- Work will close the center vehicle westbound lane in the 3600 and 3700 blocks of University Avenue.
- Work will close the thru traffic from N. Midvale Boulevard to Rose Place.
- Work will close the left vehicle turn lanes on: University Avenue to Rose Place; University Avenue to Highbury Road; Highbury Road to University Avenue; and Rose Place to University Avenue.
- Work will require a work zone at Highbury Road in the southbound lane east of Noodles & Company. This may encroach upon the Noodles & Company driveway Highbury Road entrance. Both driveways of Noodles & Company are anticipated to remain open during this time period.
- Work will necessitate closure of a driveway entrance to Walgreens and Steve's Liquor. Each business will maintain an open entrance during that time period.
- It is expected the work zone will require vehicles to encroach upon with westbound bike lane.
- A pedestrian detour will be in effect: the north/south crossing of University Avenue on the east side of Midvale Boulevard will be closed. See the detour map.
During this time, the contractor may coordinate with the adjacent businesses to dye test select business laterals. This involves coordinating a time between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. for building access to flush a small amount of sewer-safe dye down the toilet. Anticipated businesses for dye testing include: Walgreens, Steve's Liquor and Noodles & Company. The contractor will reach out directly to arrange this work.
Project overview
The District is completing this project to provide safe and reliable wastewater conveyance to residents and businesses while protecting public health and the environment. Rehabilitation of the West Interceptor will provide structural stability, improve flows, prevent infiltration of groundwater and extend the life of the interceptor. An interceptor is the largest component of a sewer network. It receives flow from smaller sewer lines and directs sewage to the wastewater treatment plant.
The West Interceptor serves the City of Middleton, the near west side of the City of Madison, the Village of Shorewood Hills, and the Town of Westport. The portion of the West Interceptor to be rehabilitated with this project is among the oldest interceptors in the District’s collection system. The original West Interceptor was built in 1916, extended to Middleton in 1932 and has had several more extensions, reliefs and replacements added to the system over the years. The existing pipe contains structural defects that warrant rehabilitation. The existing manholes are exhibiting signs of corrosion, general wear and need rehabilitation.
This project will rehabilitate a portion of the existing West Interceptor pipe and manholes. View a map of the project overview.
To renew the interceptor, this project will utilize trenchless technologies such as cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) and manhole rehabilitation to avoid excavation. This will save time, save money, minimize disturbance and protect the environment while addressing aging infrastructure needs and delivering reliable sewer service. In order to facilitate this work, traffic control, cleaning and televising, sanitary sewerage bypass pumping and ancillary work activities will be needed.
The District is coordinating with the City of Madison, Metro Transit, the Village of Shorewood Hills and Dane County for this work.
Trenchless technologies
Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP)
The Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) lining is essentially installing a new pipe inside the existing pipe. The process includes saturating a tube-like woven fabric liner with a resin, inserting the liner within the deteriorated pipe, and then curing the liner. This work will require a refrigeration truck, a cure truck, televising and cleaning trucks, grouting trucks, and ancillary trucks. Depending on location, this work may necessitate sewer bypass pumping while the liner is installed and curing. This may also include an area for fusing pipe, above-ground temporary pumps, piping, ramps, vactor trucks, etc. The rehabilitated pipes have an estimated design life of 50 years with routine maintenance.
Manhole Rehabilitation
The manhole rehabilitation will be performed by inspecting, cleaning, repairing, prepping, and coating each manhole. This work will be formed through each manhole lid and require a coating truck. The manhole renewal has an estimated design life of 50 years with routine maintenance.
Schedule & Phasing
Construction is anticipated to occur April 2025 through August 2025, subject to change. This project will have eight phases, each phase is anticipated to take 2 weeks. View a map of the phasing. One phase is anticipated at a time for the work on University Avenue and Shorewood Boulevard. Work will generally begin at the western end of the project, ending at the eastern end (Shorewood Blvd). View a map of the project timeline as it relates to phasing.
Traffic
There are eight phases of the project. Six phases will be along University Avenue, working in approximately 700-foot stretches or less at a time. The project work along University Avenue and Shorewood Boulevard will generally take place during nighttime hours with roadway traffic lanes being restored during most daytime hours. Single vehicle lane closures are planned. The work along University Avenue will be mostly limited to the westbound lanes. The work along Shorewood Boulevard will be mostly limited to the southbound lanes.
Driveway, sidewalk and bike lane closures will be necessary for select time periods.
Nightwork
Nightwork is generally planned for along University Avenue and Shorewood Boulevard. Nightwork is required to minimize impacts to traffic, businesses, water/sewer use for adjacent properties and assist the contractor in working when sewer flows are lower. The anticipated nighttime working hours along University Avenue and Shorewood Boulevard will occur between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with select areas between 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Nightwork will include traffic control, cleaning and televising, cured-in-place-pipe installation, manhole rehabilitation, sanitary sewage bypass pumping and ancillary work activities. In each phase, work trucks will be required. By law, these trucks are required to have backup alarms. Truck backup movements are anticipated to be intermittent. The bypass pumping equipment will have noise insulation. The cured-in-place pipe installation is anticipated to be completed in two nights per phase.
Note that sewer rehabilitation is less noisy than traditional open cut methods for a location such as this project.
Nightwork is not planned for the work adjacent to the State of Wisconsin Building, Walnut Grove Apartments, Locust Drive and Burbank Place. Work there is anticipated to take place during daytime hours.
Sanitary sewer service
Work outside of the normally allowed hours will reduce the impact of water and sewer service interruption on businesses and residences. Properties may still experience limited interruptions of water and sewer service. Affected property owners will receive two notifications prior to the work occurring and should expect service interruption up to 12 hours. In select locations, bypass pumping may be necessary. This will be completed through the use of above-ground temporary pumps, piping, plugs, ramps, vactor trucks and installing cleanouts (if necessary). Once the pipe is rehabilitated, service lateral connections will be reinstated and grouted.
Public involvement
- Property owners directly adjacent to the work as determined by the engineer have been contacted directly for coordination and design input. These meetings will help the design team minimize traffic and/or sewer interruptions to the adjacent property.
- Residents, business owners and owners within 300 feet of the project were mailed a letter regarding off-hour work. A Public Hearing pertaining to noise was held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at 5 p.m. For more information, please visit https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/board-of-public-works/2025-02-12.
- A project public information meeting was held virtually on April 24, 2025 at 5:30 pm prior to the start of construction. Anticipated traffic impacts, construction sequence and schedule (subject to change) were presented at this meeting.
- Virtual Public Information Meeting
- Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 5:30 p.m.
- View the recording
Resources
This project will utilize trenchless technologies and is phased to have minimal impact on businesses. To help your business prosper before, during and after construction, please see the Road Construction Survival Guide made possible by the City of Madison Office of Business Resources Economic Development Division.
