17th St. / W. Locust St. Storm Sewer Improvements

Project Details

The 17th St. and W. Locust St. storm sewer capacity improvement project includes the installation of an 8-foot diameter pipe from the Lower Bee Branch Creek west through the railroad tracks, and a new concrete storm sewer from the railroad tracks up 17th St. to W. Locust St. and continuing up W. Locust St. toward Kirkwood St. Additional high-capacity and standard capacity storm drains will be installed. It also involves total street and sidewalk reconstruction and the relocation of underground utilities along the entire length of the project. Construction will be completed in phases starting at Elm Street.

Phase 1: Completed December 2017

Intersection of 17th St. and Elm St.
The first phase of the 17th St. / W. Locust St. project took place from August to December 2017 at the intersection of 17th and Elm streets. Crews relocated underground utilities and built a new 10 ft. x 5 ft. concrete storm sewer and installed high-capacity storm drains to reduce street flooding.

Phase 2: Completed in 2018 and 2019

17th St. from Elm St. to Heeb St.
Phase two of the project began in July 2018. Work started at Elm St. and progressed west across Washington St., Jackson St., White St., and Central Ave. up to Heeb St. Construction of the new storm sewer and associated street work finished in late December 2018. Construction of the remaining sidewalk and curb work resumed in March 2019 and finished in August 2019.

Phase 3: Planned for 2021

17th St. from Heeb St. to Iowa St.
Phase three of the project began in April 2021. The work involved extending the new 10-foot x 5-foot box culvert at Heeb St. approximately 30 feet west. Two storm intakes that span the entire width of W. 17^th St. were installed east of Heeb St. to capture overland drainage before it reaches Central Ave. The project required total street and sidewalk reconstruction. The contract was awarded to Portzen Construction, Inc. and construction was completed in June 2021.

Future Phases

The ultimate goal is to expand the storm sewer up 17th St. to W. Locust St. and continuing up W. Locust St. toward Kirkwood St. However, the project schedule and limits will be contingent on funding. More information regarding future phases of construction will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

For questions about this project, please call (563) 690-6068.