Construction update - 7/31/2025
Construction is underway
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 work is complete with the exception of lateral grouting. Lateral grouting behind the WI State Records Center and along Locust Drive remain. Phase 1 lateral grouting behind the WI State Records Center will occur during daytime hours on Wednesday, August 6. Phase 2 Lateral grouting along Locust Drive will occur during daytime hours on Thursday, August 7. A truck will be parked adjacent to the necessary manhole for this work.
- Phase 3 work is complete with the exception of sealing a cast iron lateral connection in the mainline. This work will take place at a later date—TBD.
- Phase 4 work is complete.
- Phase 5 is complete with the exception of sealing a cast iron lateral connection in the mainline. This work will take place at a later date—TBD.
- Phase 6 work is complete.
- Phase 7 on University Avenue will begin on July 31. This work will take place at night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. This work will require a nightly detour to Tally Ho Lane and Western Road as the southbound lane of Shorewood Boulevard will be closed during this time.
- Phase 8 on University Avenue will occur the week of August 11. Work on the siphon located at the Shorewood and Locust intersection is planned for Monday, August 11 evening to Tuesday, August 12 morning. Work on the siphon located at the University Avenue and Midvale Boulevard intersection is planned for Tuesday, August 12 evening to Wednesday, August 13 morning.
Work for the weeks of July 28 and August 4
Phase 7 cleanout installation, lateral launch, dye testing and televising and cleaning is scheduled for Thursday, July 31. Phase 7 cured-in-place pipe installation, manhole rehabilitation and lateral grouting is scheduled for the week of August 4. Work will take place at night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. During this time, the following traffic changes are anticipated:
General traffic changes
- Work will close the southbound vehicle westbound lane of Shorewood Boulevard between Tally Ho Lane and University Avenue. As such, Locust Drive will be closed at the intersection of Shorewood Boulevard. During this time, a nightly detour will be in effect routing southbound vehicles to Tally Ho Lane and Western Road. Shorewood Boulevard and Locust Drive will reopen outside of these hours. This detour is anticipated to be active nightly from July 28th to August 15th.
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Work will close the outer vehicle westbound lane in the Shorewood and University Avenue intersection. No bike detour will be in effect as bikes may use full lane through the intersection.
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Two pedestrian detours will be in effect:
1) The work will require trucks in the pedestrian crossing on the north side of the University Avenue and Shorewood Boulevard intersection. Thus, the crosswalk in this location will be closed and detoured around the south side of the intersection.
2) The work will require trucks in the pedestrian crossing on the north side of the University Avenue and Locust Drive intersection. Thus, the crosswalk in this location will be closed and detoured further north crossing the railroad tracks.
Danford Plaza/Boulevard Apartments (3326 University Avenue)
- The driveway access for the Danford Plaza/Boulevard Apartments (3326 University Avenue) on Shorewood Boulevard will be closed nightly to facilitate this work. The driveway will reopen daily outside of these hours. Access to the buildings will remain open as other driveways will not be affected.
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A work truck is anticipated to park along the east side of the Danford Plaza/Boulevard Apartments (3326 University Avenue) private drive, adjacent to the sidewalk.
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The contractor may coordinate for dye testing to flush a small amount of sewer-safe dye down the toilet for this building.
Shorewood Shopping Center (3230 University Avenue)
- Work will restrict vehicle movements from the Shorewood Shopping Center (3230 University Avenue) driveway on Shorewood Boulevard. As the southbound lane of Shorewood Boulevard will be closed, traffic leaving the Shorewood driveway will only be permitted to turn right and travel north. The driveway will fully reopen daily outside of these hours. Access to the buildings will remain open as other driveways will not be affected.
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A work truck is anticipated to park along the west side of the Shorewood Shopping Center private drive, adjacent to the sidewalk.
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The contractor may coordinate for dye testing to flush a small amount of sewer-safe dye down the toilet for this building.
Shorewood Hills Village Hall and Police Department (810 Shorewood Boulevard)
- Work will restrict vehicle movements from the Shorewood Hills Village Hall and Police Department (810 Shorewood Boulevard) to Locust Drive. As Locust Drive will be closed at the Shorewood Boulevard intersection, the east driveway along Locust Drive will be closed. The east driveway along Shorewood Boulevard will be restricted for police vehicle traffic only. These driveways will fully reopen daily outside of these hours. Access to the buildings will remain open as other driveways will not be affected.
- The contractor may coordinate for dye testing to flush a small amount of sewer-safe dye down the toilet for this building.
Work for the week of August 11
Phase 8 siphon cleaning and televising scheduled for week of August 11. Work will take place at night between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Monday 8/11 evening – Tuesday 8/12 morning
Work on the siphon located at the Shorewood and Locust intersection is planned. During this time, the following traffic changes are anticipated:
- Work will close the southbound vehicle westbound lane of Shorewood Boulevard between Tally Ho Lane and University Avenue. As such, Locust Drive will be closed starting east of the intersection of Western Road. During this time, a nightly detour will be in effect routing southbound vehicles to Tally Ho Lane and Western Road. Shorewood Boulevard and Locust Drive will reopen outside of these hours. This detour is anticipated to be active nightly from July 28th to August 15th.
- A pedestrian detour will be in effect:
The work will require trucks in the pedestrian crossing on the north side of the University Avenue and Locust Drive intersection. Thus, the crosswalk in this location will be closed and detoured further north crossing the railroad tracks.
Shorewood Shopping Center (3230 University Avenue)
- Work will restrict vehicle movements from the Shorewood Shopping Center (3230 University Avenue) driveway on Shorewood Boulevard. As the southbound lane of Shorewood Boulevard will be closed, traffic leaving the Shorewood driveway will only be permitted to turn right and travel north. The driveway will fully reopen daily outside of these hours. Access to the buildings will remain open as other driveways will not be affected.
Shorewood Hills Village Hall and Police Department (810 Shorewood Boulevard)
- Work will restrict vehicle movements to the Shorewood Hills Village Hall and Police Department (810 Shorewood Boulevard). As Locust Drive will be closed at the east of Western Road, the south driveway from University Avenue should be used. Only police vehicle traffic is permitted to proceed beyond the barriers east of the Western Road intersection. These driveways will fully reopen daily outside of these hours. Access to the buildings will remain open as other driveways will not be affected.
Tuesday 8/12 evening – Wednesday 8/13 morning
Work on the siphon located at the University Avenue and Midvale Boulevard intersection is planned. During this time, the following traffic changes are anticipated:
- Work will close the center vehicle westbound lane in the intersection of University Avenue and Midvale Boulevard. The closure will start approximately at Highbury place and end in the 3800 block of University Avenue.
- Work will restrict northbound N. Midvale Boulevard movements at University Avenue. Northbound left turns and thru movements from N. Midvale Boulevard will not be permitted during work hours. Only northbound right-turn traffic to eastbound University Avenue will be permitted during this timeframe. View the truck detour for this work at University Avenue and Midvale Boulevard.
- Work will restrict southbound Rose Place movements at University Avenue. Southbound left turns and thru movements from Rose Place will not be permitted during work hours. Only southbound right-turn traffic to westbound University Avenue will be permitted during this timeframe.
- Work will close the left vehicle turn lanes on University Avenue to Rose Place/Midvale Boulevard.
- 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.
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.
