Mineral St Overpass Project

Project Update

The Mineral St. Overpass Project is nearing completion! This Green Highways project includes a variety of green infrastructure installations at five sites along a stretch of the overpass between West Virginia and W Scott Streets. These include four bioretention basins, a porous paver plaza, and a large cistern that holds stormwater runoff. The collected stormwater slowly releases into the circular bioswale in the center of a new plaza at W Washington and S 5th Streets.

A sculpture from Arts @ Large has been installed in the plaza's center. Additional art is planned at several of the project sites, including a bronze totem from Arts @ Large and a decorative bench and mural work done in collaboration with La Familia de Arte and Arts @Large.

Project Overview

This project is the third to be constructed as part of the Green Highways initiative. The project will address pollution from highway runoff. A variety of green infrastructure practices could be included such as stormwater trees, rain gardens or bioswales, native plantings, and porous pavement surfacing materials.

Pollution from the Interstate Highway I-94 flows untreated into a branch of the Milwaukee River. The highway also passes over the Walkers Point neighborhood and the National Ave. business district. The long stretch of unused land under the overpass is visually unappealing and invites unwanted behavior. The Mineral and 6^th St. Overpass Project will address both of these concerns.

The project has three main sections: the overpass between National Avenue. and W. Virginia Street, the area of the on and off ramps between W. Walker and W. Washington Streets, and a smaller area at W. Washington and S. 5^th Streets.

Key neighborhood stakeholders and amenities border the project area. These include Arts @ Large, St. Patrick’s Congregation, the United Community Center, Walker Square Park and Playground, Acosta Middle School, Bruce Guadalupe Community, and Bruce Guadalupe Middle School.

Project Map

Project Goals:

Capture highway stormwater runoff to reduce pollutants entering the waterways
Bring visual and safety improvements to the areas under and/or adjacent to the interchange

Project Timeline

Design – 2023

Construction – 2024

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Partners

Resources

Project posters from December 2023 Open House

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native plants growing under highway overpass

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Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure captures, absorbs or stores rain and melting snow, taking on numerous shapes and sizes from 55-gallon rain barrels to trees and porous pavers for parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. You can see green roofs on buildings or bioswales along city streets.