Milwaukee Celebrates Completion of Innovative Stormwater Project Under I-43

MILWAUKEE, Wis (WAUK) — There’s a stormwater-related celebration in Milwaukee.  Officials from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), the City of Milwaukee, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are gathering today to celebrate the completion of the Becher Street Overpass Green Infrastructure Project.

The project, located under I-43 in Milwaukee, was created to find solutions that will capture, store, and filter stormwater. 

WisDOT says trenches, permeable pavers, and native plantings have been installed to reduce flooding risks and minimize pollutants entering local waterways.

Part of the Green Highways program, the project redirects highway stormwater runoff from I-94 to green infrastructure installations under the overpass, rather than allowing it to flow untreated into the Kinnickinnic River or combined sewer system.

Beyond improving stormwater management, the project aims to revitalize public space and enhance community safety in an area straddling industrial and residential neighborhoods.