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Committee chooses Option 1 to reconstruct North 20th/Eighth Avenue with caveats on stormwater and winter protection
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to pursue Option 1 — reconstructing 20 Eighth Avenue in its current alignment — but members asked staff to address stormwater drainage, snow‑event protections and the road’s steep grade as part of final design.
The Infrastructure and Facilities Committee voted unanimously to pursue Option 1 for reconstruction of 20 Eighth Avenue (the block between West Hill Drive and West Wausau Avenue), directing staff to refine design details on stormwater control and winter protections.
Engineering staff warned that the preliminary cost estimates in the packet exclude sanitary sewer and water main work and that storm sewer would likely be needed to stop ongoing washouts. Staff also noted the roadway’s steep sections: committee members referenced an existing grade near 18 percent and said recommended grades are closer to 12 percent.
“Option 1 will be for me,” Alder Larson said, adding the caveat that the reconstructed roadway should include winter protections and better stormwater management. Alder Watson moved to pursue Option 1; Alder Neal seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Committee discussion highlighted tradeoffs of each alternative. Residents, including Frank Stoffel of 2801 West Los Avenue and Bradley Timwalt of 3007 Ridgewood Drive, spoke in favor of Option 1, saying the thoroughfare is historically used and that closing it or adding cul‑de‑sacs would reroute traffic into residential streets. Aspirus representatives also supported keeping the through route because of campus plans.
Engineering said a fuller design would likely add storm sewer down the hill or improve the east‑side ditch; those storm utilities were not included in the road‑only estimate provided at this meeting. Cost estimates given in discussion put the difference between options at roughly $750,000 (staff provided 30%‑level estimates of approximately $1.5 million vs. $2.25 million, but staff said estimates would be refined with geotechnical borings).
Committee members asked staff to return with refined cost estimates, borings and design options that specifically address the steep grade, stormwater management and snow‑event gate or control details before formal budget requests.
