By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
An infrastructure project that has been in the works for nearly a year in Whitewater is officially moving forward, following a recent decision by city officials.
The Common Council on June 21 gave city staffers the green light to proceed with plans to design and construct a wet detention basin at the intersection of South Franklin and West Ann streets. The project also includes the northwest side of Cravath Lake.
In a memo explaining the rationale behind the project, Assistant City Manager Chris McDonell said the basin is designed to “reduce nonpoint source pollutant discharge and help reduce total suspended solids loadings” that could help in mitigating basement backups and other unexpected occurrences.
The Common Council approved moving forward with the detention basin last September. As part of its motion at the time, officials gave engineering firm Strand Associates a task order to design specifications for the detention basin.
This particular project is expected to begin Aug. 15 and wrap by Sept. 30.
Whitewater has undertaken other similar projects in recent years. Detention ponds have been installed on East Clay and James streets and Bloomingfield Drive.
The Ann and Franklin streets project has a few additional complications since it involves revamping existing infrastructure.
“A new sanitary (system) will be rerouted between Ann Street and the interceptor,” McDonell said. “This sanitary reroute is necessary due to the anticipated improvements with the Franklin and Ann streets reconstruction.”
The roadwork is slated to occur next year, pending the council’s approval of the city’s 2017 capital improvements list.
