Becher Street Overpass Project

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Project Update: Construction for the Becher St Overpass Project

The vegetation at the Green Highways Becher St. Overpass project site is the beginning of revegetation of the site with native plants. The native plant seeds establish themselves in year one and take two to three years to mature. Early species to take hold this summer are the grasses, such as rye grass, little bluestem, and Indiangrass. Other additional native plant species that you’ll see this summer and in following years include wild bergamot, yellow coneflower, and prairie blazing star.

Project Overview

The Green Highways program addresses highway stormwater runoff through innovative green infrastructure. Green infrastructure captures, absorbs, or stores rain and melting snow. The stormwater runoff is redirected from highway downspouts to an array of green infrastructure installations under overpasses.

Highway stormwater runoff carries a variety of pollutants including oils, vehicular fluids, and salts. These pollutants often drain untreated into Milwaukee’s rivers and Lake Michigan. The Becher Street Overpass Project will redirect stormwater from the I-94 Interstate to green infrastructure installations under the overpass instead of flowing directly to the Kinnickinnic River or the combined sewer system. Green infrastructure captures, absorbs, or stores rain and melting snow.

The green infrastructure installations will reduce pollutants flowing into local waters or reduce the volume in the combined sewer system. Several types of green infrastructure installations are recommended, including constructing bioswales, replacing pavement with permeable pavers, and planting native plants.

The overpass area is of high interest to the surrounding community, straddling a river-side industrial corridor and residential neighborhoods. Traffic safety is also a concern due to the concentration of city streets and the highway on and off-ramps. The green infrastructure will also help create a greater sense of place and function for the community and discourage unwanted activity under the overpass.

Project Map

Other community improvements are also being considered as part of the project’s planning process. While the green infrastructure improvements will be funded by the MMSD, independent funding for additional improvements will need to be secured and led by the efforts of local stakeholders.

Project Benefits

Reduce stormwater runoff
Improve runoff water quality
Activate the neighborhood

Project Timeline

Winter 2022 – Fall 2022 – Engineering Design with Public Engagement Opportunities
Winter 2023 – Summer 2023 – Construction

Current conditions at the project site.
Current conditions at the project site.
Design concepts for the project under and along the Becher St overpass.
Design concepts for the project under and along the Becher St overpass.

Partners

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Green Infrastructure in Greater Milwaukee

Bioswale

Bioswales are landscape features that collect polluted stormwater runoff, soak it into the ground, and filter out pollution. Bioswales are similar to rain gardens but are designed to capture much more runoff coming from larger areas of impervious surfaces like streets and parking lots.

Porous Pavement

Porous pavement systems allow runoff to soak into the pavement surface and engineered stone layers below. The water then slowly moves down into the ground and is connected to local stormwater sewers or can be collected and stored for future use.

Native Landscaping

Native landscaping uses colorful native plants, ornamentals, or a combination of the two, to create a natural landscape that manages rainwater while beautifying your yard. Native plants have deep growing root systems that help break up the soil, allowing more water to drain into the ground.