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Port Washington outlines interim and long-term plans to stabilize Upper Lake Park bluff
Summary
Staff presented survey results and a conceptual plan for temporary road relocation, dewatering pipes and beach nourishment to stabilize a failing bluff at Upper Lake Park; engineering is complete and bids are out for parts of the work, with larger stabilization scheduled in later years.
City staff told the Board of Public Works on May 12 that heavy rains on April 12 caused additional bluff failures at Upper Lake Park that blocked the North Beach walkway and left the roadway roughly 10 feet from the bluff edge. Staff said Miller Engineers completed a topographic survey and the city temporarily relocated about 200 feet of road to maintain access and safety.
Staff described an interim approach to stabilize the bluff midsection by reusing excavated soil and installing directionally drilled perforated interceptor pipes to dewater a sand seam that runs through the bluff. The concept pairs dewatering with a buried revetment (armor stone covered by beach nourishment) and a long-term grading/cutback and dewatering plan; staff said the dewatering/interceptor-pipe work is out for bid and that the larger beach nourishment/stabilization is currently scheduled in later phases (2028–2030) but could move depending on available funding and the results of an ongoing facilities study.
The board reviewed pedestrian and traffic concepts intended to improve safety and preserve popular walking loops around the park: options include converting the southbound lane to two-way traffic, converting the former northbound lane to a pedestrian pathway, building a new west-side bluff path, raised crosswalks by Possibility Playground, traffic-calming measures and traffic circles at both park ends. Staff noted the project will be coordinated with the Park & Rec Board and added to the budget process for future funding consideration.
Board members raised questions about the causes of bluff failures and whether lake level versus sand-seam dewatering is dominant; staff said the failures stem from a combination of a mid-bluff sand seam and toe erosion from lake action, with most failures occurring overnight during storms. Staff also reported difficulties getting bids for some work (the interceptor-pipe procurement initially received no bids from plan holders; staff plans to contact plan holders directly). Staff said work that requires heavy construction or design is tied to funding cycles and may be scheduled when lake levels and bids are favorable.
Staff will continue outreach with park stakeholders and provide progress reports to the board as bid results and funding availability develop.
