The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) is making improvements to S. 1st Street between S. Chase and W. Lincoln avenues. The project will improve safety for all users and increase green space along the corridor.

The scope of work for the project includes:

• A road diet that narrows the existing street from four lanes to two.
• The two existing northbound lanes will be depaved and repurposed by installing a 10-foot wide, shared-use trail and green infrastructure betwee S. 1st Street and the Kinnickinnic River.
• The two existing southbound lanes will accommodate two-way traffic for motorized vehicles.
• The new shared-used path will provide dedicated facilities for people walking and biking where none previsiously existed.

The current design has a minimum of a 36,000 square foot reduction of impervious surface (pavement); and an addition of 10,500 square feet of bioswales, 40 trees, and 27,800 square feet of native landscaping. In total, these additions will add approximately 90,870 gallons of storm water storage capacity, by preliminary estimates.

This project is being designed and constructed in collaboration with the Harbor District, and grant funding from the MMSD Green Infrastructure Partnership Program (GIPP) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Sustain our Great Lakes Program (SOGL).

Construction for the project is anticipated to begin in 2025, but may not be completed by the end of the 2025 construction season.

Soutbound traffic on S. 1st Street will be maintained between S. Chase and W. Lincoln avenues, with short-term, day-time closures needed for storm sewer construction and street repaving.

Northbound traffic on S. 1st Street will be detoured between S. Chase and W. Lincoln avenues for most of project.