Drivers, businesses on northeast side asked to weigh in on sewer project, possible traffic concerns

$9.6 million project to begin in 2019

MADISON, Wis. — A new, $10 million sewer line on the northeast side of Madison is expected to significantly impact people who live in and work in the area next summer, when construction begins.

Now, the question is where that line will be installed. The public will get a chance to weigh in on that at a 6:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Carl Sanburg Elementary School.

There are four options on the table for the project. Three of them involved construction on Lien Road.

The sewerage district says the construction would likely impact businesses more than houses, which they have let local homeowners know by going door-to-door.

All options involved tunneling under East Washington Avenue, more than 25 feet below ground. That construction would not likely impact traffic on East Washington.

The effect on traffic in Madison as a whole largely depends on which route is selected. Two of the routes could slow drivers on Highway 51 and people on the MATC campus.

“We do have lots of things that we do have to consider for the design of the sewer,” said Jennifer Hurlebaus, project manager. Hurlebaus said she’s hoping to have the route selected by the end of June, with construction scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019.

Hurlebaus said the sewer line showed signs of corrosion during a robotic inspection in 2011. At that time, money was budgeted for the project. The corrosion is likely due to aging, as the pipe has been in service since 1969.

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