About Us
2035 Vision
Strategic Plan & Performance
History
Milorganite
GIS Maps and Data
News
Events
Facilities
Budget/Financial
Blue Notes Newsletter
Blue Notes Newsletter Sign-up
What We Do
Education and Outreach
Milwaukee Estuary AOC Projects
Sustainability
What You Can Do
Green infrastructure
Rain Barrels
Rain Garden
Porous Pavement
Native Landscaping
Adopt-A-River
Become a Fresh Coast Guardian
Home HazMat Collection
Medicine Collections
Water Drop Alert
What Not to Flush
Procurement
Procurement Opportunities
Construction and CAD Standard Documents and Special Bid Attachments
Vendor Registration
Events & Outreach
Supplier Diversity
Business Development
Workforce Development
Contract Compliance Login
Government & Business
Municipal Information
Rules & Regulations
Private Property I & I
Pipe Check Contractor Resources
Industrial Waste & Pretreatment
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
2050 Facilities Plan
2020 Water Quality Initiative
Para leer en español, vaya a la esquina derecha superior de la pagina, seleccione el idioma (en el móvil, el icono del cubo “A”) y cambie a español.
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.
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.
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.
Current conditions at the project site.
Design concepts for the project under and along the Becher St overpass.
Sign up to receive Becher Overpass Project updates in your inbox below.
Participate in upcoming events. MMSD will conduct several stakeholder and public engagement opportunities for input and feedback. Check back here for information and updates.
Follow MMSD on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) for updates on MMSD projects.
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 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 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.
By using our website you are consenting to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.