Milwaukee – Beginning Thursday, March 27, the City of Milwaukee will reconstruct South 27th Street from West Howard Avenue to the Union Pacific Railroad bridge near West Dakota Street. Site preparation work began on March 17th with full reconstruction beginning on the 27th. The project completion date is expected to be November 15, 2014.
The project includes:
Replacing the existing pavement with a new concrete pavement
Widening each roadway by two (2) feet to provide a bicycle accommodation
New curbs and gutters, driveway approaches and sidewalks at most locations
Installing decorative crosswalks at West Howard, Morgan and Oklahoma avenues, and the Kinnickinnic
River Parkway
Rehabilitating the bridge over the Kinnickinnic River and the culvert under the West Loomis Roadintersection. West Loomis Rd. also will be reconstructed from S. 27th St. west for about 450 feet.
“Green” sustainable infrastructure improvements
“The South 27th Street project provides an excellent opportunity for the City of Milwaukee and the Department of Public Works to continue to implement several “green infrastructure” components in our street designs,” said DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban. “This project will include nine bio retention facilities, or bio swales, in the new boulevards as well as landscaping elements that help remove silt and pollution from storm water runoff.”
Korban also emphasized the City’s commitment to incorporate safety improvements along the S. 27th St. corridor, a high volume street that provides access to a thriving business district, St. Luke’s Hospital, schools, churches, and recreational areas. This project will include traffic signal and crosswalk improvements and upgrades to the turning lanes as recommended in a series of safety audits, said Korban,
Phase 1: March 27 through approximately July 14: Reconstruction work on the west side of S. 27th St (southbound lanes). Two-way traffic will continue to operate on the east side of the street, one lane in each direction. Pavement gaps will be provided at intervals to maintain access to properties located along the street.
Phase 2: Approximately July 14 through November 15: Reconstruction moves to the east side of S. 27th St. (northbound lanes). Two-way traffic – one lane in each direction – moves to the recently completed southbound lanes.
Four-way traffic access will continue at the intersections of S. 27th St. and W. Howard, Morgan, and Oklahoma avenues.
Businesses and agencies along the construction corridor will be open as usual. DPW’s Support for Business program is providing signage throughout the area to help direct motorists and pedestrians to their destinations.
The Milwaukee County Transit System will maintain its current bus service on S. 27th St., with bus stops moving to the medians when construction prevents stopping at the curb.
