New Berlin board backs two‑party agreement for Moreland Road reconstruction

The City of New Berlin Board of Public Works on Jan. 20 recommended the common council approve a two‑party construction agreement with Waukesha County to reconstruct Moreland Road (County Trunk Highway O) from National Avenue to just south of Cleveland Avenue, subject to final review by the city attorney and final plans on file. The board approved the recommendation by voice/roll call vote.

Tammy, a city staff member, said Waukesha County will perform the reconstruction in 2025 and that the city is responsible for relocating any city‑owned facilities in the county right of way. “Waukesha County will be reconstructing Moreland Road, from National Avenue to Cleveland Avenue in 2025,” Tammy said. She told the board the city’s work will include relocating emergency vehicle preemption equipment on traffic signals, replacing or adding decorative pedestrian lighting in the terrace area, replacing existing brick terraces with colored concrete and adjusting utility structures to the new pavement elevation.

The project is included in the city’s 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Tammy said the city has an amount set aside in the 2025 CIP for the work; when asked by a board member if $440,000 was already in the CIP, she answered, “Yes.” She said the county will solicit bids and that final costs depend on those bids. Tammy also noted a prior phase of the corridor had come in substantially over budget: “they were overbid by, like, dollars 4,000,000,” she said, referring to a past project. She added the county’s current pricing is expected to be “a little bit better” than the prior bid.

City staff described construction staging and timeline: crews plan to start in early April and aim for completion by Nov. 30 or early December 2025. The plans call for three lanes in each direction up to Coffee Road, with some turn‑lane improvements and signal timing changes at Coffee, then two lanes in each direction north of Coffee Road. The Cleveland Avenue intersection is not included in this 2025 work and is expected to be addressed in a later phase in 2026.

Staff showed board members plan maps and said the city will place new or replacement pedestrian lights in the terrace area between the curb and sidewalk on the east side and tie them into existing lighting cabinets, avoiding the need for a new cabinet. Staff also said the county’s plan will remove or restrict some access points: the entrances at several businesses near McDonald’s and the Sendix (Cendix) location will be changed to limit movements — for example, converting some approaches to right‑in/right‑out — and the county will close one median at San Mateo to reduce cut‑through traffic.

Board members moved and seconded approval of the staff recommendation and voted in favor. Named ayes during the roll call included Alderman Maxey, Alderman Horbinski, Commissioner Bridal, Alderman Hopkins and Mayor Emmett. Commissioner Seidel was excused. The board also approved routine minutes from the July 15, 2024 meeting by voice vote earlier in the session.

Board members and staff emphasized that final city costs depend on the county bids and the city attorney’s final review of the two‑party agreement. Tammy said she will provide updates at the board’s next meeting.