East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is off to a successful start
Construction is well underway on the East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The Zenith Tech (ZTI) team and partners are working diligently to reach 50% completion by the end of 2021. This nine-mile, regional, modern transit service will connect major employment, education, and recreation destinations through downtown Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s Near West Side, Marquette University, Wauwatosa, and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC).
As the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin, this is both a challenging and exciting project for ZTI to be a part of. The team has to tackle a variety of urban construction activities including coordination between municipalities, complex utility installation, and trade coordination within a complex project schedule.
Construction began on June 1, 2021, with a tentative completion scheduled for fall 2022.
The team will be just west of Marquette University’s Campus by the end of this construction season. During the winter months, project partners will work on setting shelters at stations where the concrete is complete and traffic signal priority integration. In April 2022, ZTI will begin construction at Marquette University’s campus and move east.
PROJECT FEATURES
- 32 stations beginning at the Watertown Plank Park & Ride and working east
- Zenith Tech is providing construction management services, setting station shelters, concrete pavement, curb & gutter, ADA ramps, and sidewalks.
- Subcontract partners:
- Concrete removals
- Reinforced station foundations
- Installation of utilities
- Transit signal priority integration
- Connecting new storm sewer to the existing sewer
- Electrical work at each platform to accommodate the installation of a snowmelt system, real-time tracking screens, ticket vending and validating machines, illuminated shelters, and pylon signs, ramps, and steps leading to the platform.
- Payne + Dolan providing surveying services, grading, and asphalt paving
Great collaboration and teamwork between HTNB (Construction Management Consultant) and subcontractor partners have been key to a successful first season of this project. The team continues to communicate effectively and work through issues together to ensure this project is a huge success for Wisconsin.