The prolonged construction on Downer Avenue has come to an end following the completion of phase two of the South East Area Combined Sewer Improvements (SEACSI). SEACSI is a project aiming to secure sewer systems for sanitary features and as a preventative measure for intense rainfall and basement backup in any adverse circumstances. 

SEACSI was culminated in response to extreme flooding that took place in 2010 throughout Milwaukee. Preceding the event, many of Shorewood’s sewer systems were the same installments made in the early 1900s, leaving them vulnerable to be easily overwhelmed when confronted with extreme conditions. 

“[My] family didn’t live here at the time, but I did hear some awful stories from our neighbors who did live here,” said Rachel Drzewicki, a Shorewood resident who lives along Downer Avenue. “Some of [them] had significant damage to their basements especially.”

In hopes of stronger preparation for rainfall, the village incited a comprehensive plan in 2011. According to Leeann Butschlick, director of public works, the project required multiple iterations and phases that spanned over a decade before reaching its final design.

In 2020, the project was presented to the Shorewood Village Board, who approved the plan on July 6, 2021, prompting the process to begin. The outline of the project included three phases that targeted different areas of the village, focusing on upsizing and installing relief sewers in each. Phase one took place in 2023 on a segment of N. Maryland and E. Stratford Ct., phase two on Downer Ave., and in the upcoming year the project will conclude with Lake Drive as phase three.

Unlike phases one and two, the construction on Lake Drive is a separate project proposed for road renewal as per the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; the implementation of phase three of SEASCI is an additional component due to the two projects coinciding.

“It’s the state’s project to reconstruct the roadway, but we did negotiate with them so that while the roadway is open, we can upsize the [sewer] system,” Butschlick said. “It’s definitely the most efficient [and] cost effective way to do it…It provides the least amount of destruction possible to residents and the traveling public.”

On Downer Avenue, the village had to consider the multiple layers of excavation involved in the process; furthest into the ground are the sewers, followed by the water main, and then the road. In order to refurbish the sewer collection, the Downer segment underwent three construction processes.

“We did [have to] relay a couple thousand feet of 16-inch water main,” Butschlick said. “That section of water main is [one of] the most critical assets in the village so we had multiple emergency operation plans in place for each phase of that work…Had anything gone wrong, that’s our water source.”

The other large risk of the project was in phase one, where a narrow location for deep excavation posed a risk for neighboring building structures. Despite these possibilities, the village carried out the operations without issues. 

Although phase two of the project included upgrades to its sewer system, Downer Avenue received many additional enhancements. Some of these included dedicated bike lanes, travel lanes, and other pedestrian improvements.

“When we’re doing a project of that magnitude, we always look to see what else we can do so we [included] some pedestrian enhancement and green infrastructure,” Butschlick said. “We don’t get a lot of [these] opportunities in Shorewood, so when we get them, we try to make sure we take every advantage.”

According to Butschlick, the road profile’s cross-section will function better than it had previously. 

“It’s pretty busy again and I think more people are using Downer,” Drzewicki said. “They added [different features] that are beneficial and [will] keep the bikers a little safer…They cut into the road a little bit, which I think looks nice, and it’s better for pedestrians crossing at those streets.”

For residents living near Downer Avenue, the construction could be disruptive and inconvenient, making it important for the village to communicate well. According to Butschlick, there is a constant effort to keep the residents informed.

“We do what’s called a public information meeting prior to the start [of a project] and we try to explain the purpose of the project, our goals, expectations, and what their daily impacts [will] be,” Butschlick said. “When you get water in your basement, it’s not fun, so I think most people were pleased that the village was taking some action.”

The Village put in place different forms of communication such as mail notices, construction status reports, and meetings for Downer residents to ensure they were updated on the process.

“[The construction] was a bit inconvenient and the biggest disruption for me was the noise,” Drzewicki said. “But the village was very good about their communication…there were no surprises.”

The Village provided residents with passes to put on the rear window of their car to allow for flexible parking. According to Violet Lucier, a Shorewood resident living on Downer, they received notice of which days they wouldn’t have access to their driveways and garages, and the supplied passes allowed them to park on adjacent streets. 

With the construction on Downer Avenue gone, the street resembles its previous state. 

“The new roadway has always been a main street, so having Downer [again] will kind of even out traffic,” Lucier said. “It’s a bit of relief knowing [the construction] is over, and also it does make things smoother.”

Overall, Butschlick says that, despite risk mitigation steps taken by the Village with the construction, there is an inherent unpredictability in weather events.

“We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars to increase the level of protection for basement backups, but you can’t ever guarantee that it won’t happen because Mother Nature will always show you that she has the last say,” Butschlick said. “We’re such a small community and it’s kind of crazy to have this type of infrastructure investment.”