GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A $29 million infrastructure project is underway in Green Bay and Allouez to update aging underground sewer pipes that have been in operation since the 1930s.
Led by NEW Water, the Downtown Interceptors Renewal Project will restore approximately 13,000 feet of sanitary sewer and 25 manholes in and around downtown Green Bay.
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The project will also formally abandon 7,000 feet of the old East River Interceptor, which has been out of service since the 1970s.
NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, is a regional clean water utility that provides wholesale services to 15 municipalities and more than 239,000 residential and business customers.
It operates two treatment facilities, manages 78 miles of interceptors, 600 pumps, and 1,206 manholes, and cleaned about 15 billion gallons of water for the community last year.
The interceptor pipes being replaced are large, deep sewer lines that collect wastewater from smaller neighborhood pipes and send it to the treatment plant.
With some of these pipes approaching a century old, the improvements are needed to maintain service reliability and protect public health and the environment.
According to NEW Water, the project is a long-term investment that will extend the system’s lifespan for future generations, reduce the need for frequent maintenance, and maintain current service levels.
The renewal is being funded through wholesale rates to municipal customers, meaning property owners will not be charged or assessed directly for the work.
Construction will primarily take place within Green Bay city limits, with a small portion extending into the Village of Allouez.
Many of the construction methods will be “trenchless” to minimize ground-level disturbances in residential areas and parks.
Residents near the work zones can expect a variety of temporary disruptions, including road and sidewalk closures, pedestrian and bike trail detours, limited driveway access, possible changes to bus routes, and construction staging on private property.
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Crews will work to minimize these impacts and provide ongoing updates throughout the project.
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2026.
