Ashland flood-control project taking shape

Bob Petrie, Sheboygan Press staff

September 18, 2004

 The $1.3 million Ashland Avenue flood-control project keeps moving along, though completion of the work will be delayed until the end of November.

 The last of 325 individual Storm Traps, the major part of the project, were delivered this week and placed beneath South 18th Street, between Ashland and Mead avenues.

The concrete traps, weighing up to 16,000 pounds, were laid side-by-side with a backhoe under the street, to create a 5-foot deep holding tank for storm runoff in the area, plagued for years by flooded streets after big rains.

Crews put about 220 of the traps into place on Wednesday and Thursday. The finished tank will hold up to 140,000 cubic feet of runoff.

Work will continue on the Ashland Avenueproject until the end of November, about four weeks past the original finish date, said Bill Balke, an assistant city engineer. Crews lost some time recently to rain, when the large hole where the traps are being laid had to be pumped out. Also, concrete poured beneath the area where the traps are being placed needed more time to cure, Balke said.

The next step in the project, Balke said, is to finish up storm sewers on Ashland Avenue, work that has the street closed to through traffic between 17th Street and South Business Driveuntil it's complete. Access to the Aurora Clinic on Ashland Avenue is open.

Paving should be complete on 18th Streetand Ashland Avenue in early October, with sidewalks, driveways and landscaping to follow.

Water trucks continue to sprinkle the area as often as possible to keep the dust from the project down in surrounding neighborhoods, Balke said.

Maury Lawrence, 78, a resident of the Ashland Avenue Apartments, which are next to the construction site, said crews have been cooperative with the neighbors. Lead contractor is Buteyn-Peterson Construction of Sheboygan.

"They try to stay out of your way as much as they can," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said he's looking forward to the end of the project, but added it will be a big plus to the neighborhood.

"The work has got to be done and summer is the only time you can do it," he said. "It'll be a big improvement."