Overview:
Ruekert/Mielke designed the layout and infrastructure for the City of Watertown’s Westside Industrial Park. The City purchased 80 acres of land almost 10 years ago, anticipating that it would be used as a medium to heavy industry park site location. With almost all heavy industrial sites within the City limits occupied by 2006, it was the right time to develop the parcel of land. An added plus is the fact that the land is adjacent to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad tracks, thereby allowing railroad spurs to be extended to businesses within the park.
Unusual Facts:
The Westside Industrial Park posed challenges for Ruekert/Mielke engineers. The site was straight forward, with few, if any, environmental concerns. There was no opposition to the development of the site, which had been planned for many years in advance of the actual construction. So, what were the challenges? Meeting a very tight timeline was a major test.
The City was approached by a large business wanting to relocate to the area. It was a perfect fit for the industrial park, but the business was ready to build – NOW! Ruekert/Mielke laid out a project schedule that meshed with City Council, Plan Commission and Public Works Commission meetings so that there were no delays in moving the project through the necessary series of meetings and approvals. Engineers also added meetings to accommodate the schedule. This careful attention to detail and planning foresight allowed the project to move forward smoothly and quickly.
The full compliment of services was needed at the site. Sewer, water, storm sewer, roads and a stormwater management plan were all designed by Ruekert/Mielke. Storm water facilities include wet detention forebays that allow sediment to sink to the bottom, and then siphons off clear water into secondary basins filled with native plants. The native plants, with their extensive root systems, further clean the water before it is infiltrated into the shallow aquifer.
A roundabout was also included at the entrance to the industrial park. The City enthusiastically embraced the idea of a roundabout, which is safer and easier to maintain than traditional traffic lights. The roundabout was designed to accommodate the heavy truck traffic associated with the industrial park and blend aesthetically with other high profile intersections within the City.