Monthly Archives: July 2008

WisDOT: ruining the environment in more ways than one

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The first picture was taken at Swan Blvd. near US 45. Those plants going to seed are just some of the invasives the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has elected not to try to control. WisDOT is simply letting them spread into neighborhoods and, in this case, into the very nearby County Grounds, where they may very well destroy every last bit of vegetation worth saving.

The second shot is also of WisDOT’s negligence, this time northbound on US 45 somewhere in or near West Allis. Click on the pictures to see larger versions.

WisDOT, which says it has enough money to simultaneously rebuild North-South I-94 for $1.9 billion and the Zoo Interchange for another $1 billion or so, says it just doesn’t have $1 million to control noxious weeds on the rights of way it owns throughout the state.

Little Miller Park sidewalk stream will be fixed, Duckett says

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The amazing, endless stream running across the sidewalk and roadway adjacent to the Miller Park parking lot near N. Story Parkway and W. Bluemound Rd. will be fixed, Stadium Board Executive Director Mike Duckett said Friday.

The sidewalk and road leading to Miller Park from Story and Bluemound are always wet.
It’s always wet here on the sidewalk and road near Miller Park, near Story Pkwy. and Bluemound Rd.

The water was the topic of conversation and concern at the June membership meeting of the Story HIll Neighborhood Association.

Duckett said the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to use money from the segregated reserve fund, which is jointly funded by the Stadium District and the Brewers. The water could eventually damage the road, he said.

 A similar stream along the ring road caused the road to heave upwards a few years ago, necessitating repairs.

It’s not clear yet how the fix will happen, although there is a decent chance it will involve the installation of additional drain tiles. It also could involve planting new vegetation, but the area — just a few years ago lush with native grasses — is being overrun with invasives and it is questionable whether new vegetation could survive.

The Stadium District and the Brewers need to do more research before deciding on an approach, Duckett said.

“Protecting the road is something we want to do yet this year,” he said.

Duckett said he hopes to have a fix before winter, when the little stream across the sidewalk, if left alone, will turn once again into a thick layer of ice.

“It’s not safe,” he said.