Early work begins on Wauwatosa flood project

Trees will come down this week along 90th Street in Wauwatosa as the city prepares to install new sewer pipes for the Meinecke Avenue neighborhood flood mitigation project.

Preliminary estimates by the city's Parks and Forestry Department called for removing 59 and relocating 22 of 250 trees in the project area. Those numbers look to be correct so far, Public Works Director Bill Porter said today.

The city forester is looking into the structural condition and health of the trees they hope to save.

"One of the elms we were going to save came down with Dutch elm disease, so now that one has to go," Porter said. "So the one we were going to remove across the street will stay. It's an ongoing process."

Tree trimmings have been donated to the Milwaukee County Zoo to provide food to giraffes, moose, camels and elephants.

Work has started on building the outfall along the Menomonee River. Sewer and water main installation are under way, Porter said.

The county has asked that all work planned for the parkway be completed in the early phase of the project so that the road doesn't have to be shut down more than once, Porter said.

A construction hotline is (414) 479-8987 or go online to Wauwatosa.net/Meinecke.